Afghanistan: during its last strike, the US army would have killed a civilian, not a jihadist

The vehicle hit by the US drone attack on August 29, 2021 in Kabul.

AFP - WAKIL KOHSAR

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

On August 29, just before its final withdrawal from Afghanistan, the US military carried out a drone air strike.

This attack targeted a vehicle in Kabul.

According to the Pentagon, the car was loaded with explosives.

Destroying it by a missile avoided, according to the official American version, a new suicide attack on the airport of the Afghan capital.

But the

New York Times

investigated on the spot.

It was published this Friday, September 10 and its conclusions are embarrassing to say the least for the US military.

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According to the revelations of the

New York Times,

the last American strike in Afghanistan did not kill a jihadist but an Afghan employee of an American NGO.

And the movements of Ezmarai Ahmadi on August 29, described as " 

suspect

 " by the Pentagon, in fact only corresponded to an ordinary working day.

This father did not carry explosives in his car either, but water cans that he had brought home for his family.

This is shown by video surveillance footage recorded in front of the NGO's headquarters in Kabul. 

Ezmarai Ahmadi's vehicle, then parked in the courtyard of the family home, was targeted by an American missile at the end of the day.

► 

See also: Afghanistan: the United States bombs a vehicle linked to the IS group in Kabul

Investigation opened by the Pentagon

According to the official version of the American army, this strike would have caused secondary detonations proving the presence of explosives.

But the

New York Times

affirms - images in support - that no trace of secondary explosion could be noted at the scene of the tragedy, other than those caused by the American missile. 

According to the Pentagon, 3 people were killed during the strike.

10 according to the

New York Times,

including 7 children. 

The American NGO, for which Ezmarai Ahmadi had worked for many years, had also made an official request that this man and his family be evacuated by the American army, like so many other Afghans who have cooperated with the West. . 

Following the newspaper's revelations, the US military said it had opened an investigation. 

►

To listen: Departure of the Americans from Kabul: "A catastrophic scenario", according to Marc Hecker (Ifri)

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