Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson
Six people from the same family were killed in the US military’s recent airstrike on the Afghan capital Kabul, according to several Afghan sources.
The airstrikes, which took place on the afternoon of August 29, hit a vehicle in the PD-15 district of Kabul, a few kilometers to the north from the city’s airport. The remaining US troops in the airport are preparing to withdraw before the sunset of August 31.
US defense sources claimed that multiple suicide bombers of ISIS – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) were inside the targeted vehicle. The terrorists were allegedly on their way to attack US troops in Kabul airport.
“We are confident we successfully hit the target. Significant secondary explosions from the vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material. We are assessing the possibilities of civilian casualties, though we have no indications at this time. We remain vigilant for potential future threats.” the US Central Command said in a statement.
Afghan sources said that four children, their mother and uncle were killed in the airstrike. The victims are from the Panjshir Valley, the last area in Afghanistan resisting the rule of the Taliban.
Afghanistan’s Tragedy; I just spoke with member of this family in Kabul, they are originally from #Panjsher. He shared these photos with me.
“It was a rocket attack, 6 members of our family including my sister killed. we are not IS-K, we are ordinary people.” He said while cried pic.twitter.com/01MmOrfACC
— Muslim Shirzad (@MuslimShirzad) August 29, 2021
A total of 13 US service members were killed in Kabul airport on August 26 in a suicide attack orchestrated by ISIS-K. In response, President Joe Biden ordered US commanders to plan operations against the terrorist group.
The Kabul airstrike was the second US operation against ISIS-K since the deadly attack. On August 28, two high-profile leaders of the terrorist group were killed in a US drone strike on the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.
The details of the US airstrike on Kabul remain unclear. More information on the airstrike and its results will likely surface in the upcoming few days.
