A Pentagon investigation of a 2015 airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan found that the failures that led to the disaster did not amount to a war crime because they were not intentional, Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, said Friday.
The Pentagon said it disciplined 16 service members involved in the attack, which killed at least 30 people, including medical staff and patients. The U.S. troops involved did not know they were striking a medical facility, Votel said, and their punishments ranged from formal counseling to letters of reprimand.
"They were trying to do the right thing. They were trying to support our Afghan partners," Votel said. "Unfortunately, they made a wrong judgment in this particular case and ended up targeting this Doctors Without Borders facility."
Five service members, including a general officer, were removed from Afghanistan. None of the 16 service members have faced court-martial.
The Oct. 3 incident, which Votel called a "tragedy," illuminates the downsides of the U.S. strategy of fighting at arm's length, rather than committing a large ground presence. Teaming up with local counterparts, backed by U.S. air power and Special Operations troops, still presents pitfalls.
READ: Obama apologises to MSF for deadly Kunduz air strike
READ: Errant airstrike's story missing details
In this case, the Pentagon investigation showed a widespread breakdown in procedures and communication. And according to the investigation, in the days leading up to the attack, some Special Operations troops felt they had no sense of what they were trying to accomplish as they fought to retake the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, which had been unexpectedly seized by the Taliban.
One officer, whose name, rank and unit were redacted from his witness statement, blamed senior leaders for the fiasco, saying there was a "profound lack of strategy" during the multi-day battle.
Army Green Berets on the ground in the city at the time asked for guidance "no fewer than three times" during the battle and heard nothing but crickets - "though those were hard to hear over the gunfire," he alleged.
The officer also questioned the U.S. strategy of pulling most U.S. troops back almost entirely onto large bases that they rarely leave, rather than taking a more active approach as in years past.
"If someone must be held accountable," he concluded, "let it not be the man who was ordered to sky-dive without being given a parachute."
According to investigation documents released Friday, the Oct. 3 attack on the hospital was the final event in a breakdown of communication among a number of units on the ground and in the sky. These failures led to the hospital being misidentified as a Taliban command center, the report said.
U.S. Special Forces had requested an AC-130, a lumbering four-engine aircraft armed with 40mm and 20mm cannons, along with a 105 mm howitzer, to support Afghan forces as they attacked a Taliban compound in the dark of night.
As the AC-130 headed toward its intended target, another issue quickly surfaced. A key piece of equipment - a device that transmitted secure video footage from the aircraft to a Special Forces soldier on the ground guiding the aircraft and talking to the pilot - failed. With this device not working, the soldier was not able to see what the aircrew was looking at on the ground, removing a key link between the ground and the air.
To make things even more confusing, the Special Forces soldier was at a nearby headquarters, miles from the site of the attack, according to Votel. There were no American forces with their Afghan counterparts.
As the AC-130 arrived over Kunduz, it was targeted by a Taliban surface-to-air missile, according to Votel, forcing the aircraft to alter its course. The Special Forces soldier then proceeded to direct the aircraft to its target using verbal commands to verify that the crew was looking at the intended Taliban command center. Records of conversations show that there was some hesitation among the aircrew about the information being transmitted to them, the investigation found.
After a series of miscommunications, the soldier thought he had directed the AC-130 to the Taliban compound. But in reality, the soldier had the aircraft's crew pointing their cannons at the Doctors Without Borders hospital, a quarter-mile from the Taliban's facility.
At this point, there still needed to be an authorization by the American ground commander to fire. Under the rules of engagement, an airstrike is authorized only if it's meant to protect U.S. forces and their allies. The commander said he heard machine-gun fire in the area, so he authorized the strike. In fact, the compound showed no signs of hostile acts or intent that would justify a strike, and so the commander violated the rules of engagement, according to the investigation.
At approximately 2:08 a.m., the AC-130 began firing, using a mixture of its weapon systems. At this time, Afghan forces were more than five miles from their intended target, the report said. So there were no forces on the ground to determine whether the gunship was hitting the right building.
Doctors Without Borders staff began frantically trying to reach U.S. commanders to tell them to stop the attack.
Exactly 30 minutes after the strike began, the AC-130 ceased firing, after the U.S. ground commander was informed through "multiple echelons of command" that the aircraft was targeting the hospital.
Doctors Without Borders says at least 42 people were killed, though the Pentagon's report notes that the number has not been independently verified.
Following the attack, the United States has provided more than 170 individuals and families with condolence payments, including $6,000 to family members of those killed. U.S. forces have also revised their target procedures, according to Votel, and have ensured that facilities like hospitals are listed on a "no strike list" loaded onto aircraft systems.
John Sifton, Asia advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, said the punishments announced Friday were an "insult to the dead."
"The Pentagon public affairs office can try to spin 'counseling' and 'letters of reprimand' as devastating and career-ending for implicated personnel," Sifton said. "But the attack ended people's very lives, and devastated the families and survivors of those who were killed."
The president of Doctors Without Borders, Meinie Nicolai, said in a statement that "today's briefing amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during which U.S. forces failed to follow the basic laws of war. It is incomprehensible that, under the circumstances described by the U.S., the attack was not called off."
The Washington Post
Sun May 01 2016
General John Campbell testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, October 6, 2015 on the US air strikes on a hospital in Kunduz. AFP PHOTO/JIM WATSON
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.
NFOF will be operational in November 2024 with funding of RM1 bil
PM Anwar Ibrahim said NFOF will support venture capital fund managers to invest in startup companies with RM300 million set aside for 2025.
Minimum wage to increase to RM1,700 effective Feb 1, 2025
The Progressive Wage Policy would be fully enforced next year with an allocation of RM200 million, benefiting 50,000 workers.
Bursa Malaysia ends higher on Budget 2025 optimism
The benchmark index, which opened 1.85 points higher at 1,643.29, moved between 1,641.71 and 1,649.31 throughout the trading session.
Five important aspects relating to people’s lives in Budget 2025 - PM
The focus is on driving the MADANI Economy, speeding reforms, cutting red tape, raising wages, and tackling the cost of living.
Economic outlook: Govt plans to leverage, expand existing city transit system
The expansion aims to provide a more efficient and reliable public transportation network, reduce congestion, and improve accessibility.