The USA has offered “condolence” money to the family of 10 innocent civilians including 7 children who were killed in a U.S. drone attack in Kabul during August that had gone horribly wrong.

The U.S. Defence Department said it had made a commitment that included offering "ex-gratia condolence payments", and was in touch with the U.S. State Department to help the family members who were interested in relocation to the United States.

“Colin Kahl, the U.S. Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, held a virtual meeting on Thursday with Steven Kwon, the founder and president of Nutrition & Education International, the aid organization that employed Zemari Ahmadi, who was killed in the Aug. 29 drone attack,” a Reuters report cited Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby as saying.

Ahmadi and others who were killed in the strike were innocent victims who bore no blame and were not affiliated with Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) or threats to U.S. forces, Kirby said.

The drone strike in Kabul killed as many as 10 civilians, including seven children.

The Pentagon had announced on August 29 that the mission had been carried out in self defence and an “imminent” threat of an ISIS-K car bomb had been “taken out” with a successful hit of the target. 

Television footage showed black smoke rising into the sky from near a residential area close to the airport.

However, subsequently it was found that the drone strike in a neighbourhood near the Kabul airport had resulted in the death of civilians including children. Video from the scene showed the wreckage of a car.

The Pentagon later admitted that the strike was a "tragic mistake".

The strike came three days after an Islamic State suicide bomber killed 13 U.S. troops and over 100 of Afghan civilians who had crowded outside the airport gates to board evacuation flights out Kabul.

President Joe Biden had announced at the time that the US would continue its drone attacks against terrorists. However, the killing of innocent  civilians has raised questions about the future of U.S. counter-terrorism strikes in Afghanistan.

Top US Generals have admitted that the drone attack went wrong as the information that was provided about the target had turned out to be wrong. There are fears that with the US having no boots on ground in Afghanistan getting accurate information to carry out drone attacks against terror groups will be even more difficult now.

Also read: US 2nd drone strike destroys ISIS vehicle in Kabul which was to be used as a car bomb at airport