: U.S. Drone Strike on Suspected Afghan Suicide Bombers Also Killed 3 Children, Local Official Says #WorldNEWS (KABUL, Afghanistan) — A U. S. drone strike blew up a vehicle carrying “multiple

U.S. Drone Strike on Suspected Afghan Suicide Bombers Also Killed 3 Children, Local Official Says #WorldNEWS
(KABUL, Afghanistan) — A U. S. drone strike blew up a vehicle carrying “multiple suicide bombers” from Afghanistans Islamic State affiliate on Sunday before they could attack the ongoing military evacuation at Kabuls international airport, American officials said. An Afghan official said three children were killed in the strike.
The strike came just two days before the U. S. is set to conclude a massive two-week-long airlift of more than 114,000 Afghans and foreigners and withdraw the last of its troops, ending Americas longest war with the Taliban back in power.
A statement from U. S. Central Command said that the U. S. is aware of reports of civilian casualties and is assessing the results of the strike. Navy Capt. William Urban, spokesman for Central Command, said that “substantial and powerful” subsequent explosions resulted from the destruction of the vehicle, which may have caused additional casualties.
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The U. S. State Department released a statement signed by around 100 countries, as well as NATO and the European Union, saying they had received “assurances” from the Taliban that people with travel documents would still be able to leave the country. The Taliban have said they will allow normal travel after the U. S. withdrawal is completed on Tuesday and they assume control of the airport.
The Afghan official spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. Witnesses to the drone strike said it targeted two cars parked in a residential building near the airport, killing and wounding several civilians. Officials had initially reported a separate rocket attack on a building near the airport, but it turned out to be the same event.
According to a senior U. S. official, the U. S. military drone fired a Hellfire missile at a vehicle in a compound between two buildings after individuals were seen loading explosives into the trunk. The official said there was an initial explosion caused by the missile, followed by a much larger fireball, believed to be the result of the substantial amount of explosives inside the vehicle. The U. S. believes that two Islamic State group individuals who were targeted were killed.
The official said it appears that the secondary explosion did significant damage to one of the buildings next to the vehicle. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss information about a military operation.
Dina Mohammadi said her extended family resided in the building and that several of them were killed, including children. She was not immediately able to provide the names or ages of the deceased.
Karim, a district representative, said the strike ignited a fire that made it difficult to rescue people.