Afghan victims saddened US drone strike to go unpunished

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Afghan survivors of an errant United States drone strike that killed 10 members of their family in August said Tuesday they are frustrated and saddened that American troops involved in the attack will not face disciplinary action.

A hellfire missile had slammed into a car belonging to Zemerai Ahmadi, killing him and nine relatives, including seven children, in the chaotic final days of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, three of Ahmadi's brothers spoke of their loss, sitting just a few feet from where the missile struck on August 29.

They said that to this day, they have heard nothing from Washington about financial compensation or when they would be evacuated from Afghanistan.

Ahmadi, 37, was a longtime employee of an American humanitarian organisation.

The strike that killed him and his family members came following the Taliban takeover of the country in mid-August.

It also came just days after an Islamic State group suicide bomber killed 13 US troops and 169 Afghans at a Kabul airport gate.

US forces believed that the car they were following was an imminent threat and decided to strike.

Since the strike, the Ahmadis had demanded that those responsible be punished and that they be relocated to the United States or a third country deemed safe for them.

On Monday, the Pentagon said that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had approved recommendations for improvements in strike operations from the generals who lead US Central Command and Special Operations Command, based on the findings of an independent Pentagon review released last month.

But there were no recommendations for discipline made by the generals, according to John Kirby, chief Pentagon spokesman.

Kirby said the US was still ready to pay financial compensation to the Ahmadis and potentially get them out of Afghanistan. Asked why it was taking so long, Kirby said the US wanted it done as safely as possible.

For the Ahmadis, every day they remain in Kabul puts them at risk. Rumour on the street has it that the US has already paid them and criminals are eager to get their hands on the money, said Emal Ahmadi. His 3-year-old daughter Malika was killed in the strike.

They are also getting phone threats, added Emal, the youngest of the brothers.

The callers threaten to kill them if they don't give them money.

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