Pentagon does not dispute civilian deaths in Kabul drone strike
The Pentagon says military officials spoke with Taliban contacts to investigate reports of civilian casualties from yesterday's drone strike.
Pentagon officials said they are unable to refute reports that a US drone strike targeting suspected Islamic State personnel in the Afghan capital on Sunday killed several civilians.
“We are not in a position to dispute it right now,” Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters on Monday, citing an ongoing investigation. Kirby’s comments came some 24 hours after the strike reportedly killed 10 members of the same family, including several children.
“Nobody wants to see innocent life taken,” Kirby said. “If we have verifiable information that we did in fact take innocent life here, then we will be transparent about that too.”
Absent US troops on the ground outside Kabul's airport, Kirby said military officials are relying on a “a variety of means of information,” including news reports and discussions with Taliban contacts “about what they might be seeing.”
