U.S. Army Brigadier General Richard Kim is the senior investigator on the incident and is in Kunduz now, Campbell said.
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‘An air strike was then called to eliminate the Taliban threat and several civilians were accidentally struck’.
The attack occurred during an offensive by United States and Afghan forces to retake Kunduz from Taliban fighters. A few victims burned to death in their beds as the bombardments continued for an hour, even after USA and Afghan authorities were informed that the hospital was hit, MSF said. “There can be no justification for this disgusting attack”. It said an investigation had begun, while the White House said in a statement that it expects “a full accounting of the facts and circumstances” of the incident.
He also said there were no changes to rules of engagement to announce, as a result of the incident, and that the investigation would take its course.
Campbell’s revised account does not clarify whether the clinic was targeted in error or whether USA military personnel followed procedure.
While describing the hospital’s destruction as a battlefield accident, USA military commanders released information that was partial and, in a few respects, erroneous.
“We need to get a few immediate reassurances from all sides of the conflict and especially those we suppose were responsible for this attack … that we can work in Afghanistan without being bombed in our hospitals”, he said. He acknowledged that initial statements from the coalition indicated that U.S. Special Forces were under direct fire, but that was not the case and he is “correcting that statement here”. Gen. John Campbell now says the attack wasn’t sought by American forces. The aircraft is armed with side-firing weapons including 40mm and 105mm cannons and a 25mm Gatling gun.
Campbell promised to be transparent with the investigation and said he expects results of a preliminary report within days.
Kunduz has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent days.
Afghan forces, backed by their North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies, claim to have wrestled back control of the city.
Kunduz, which briefly fell to the Taliban last week before a government counteroffensive, is reportedly experiencing a growing humanitarian crisis.
Campbell offered condolences and vowed to take “all necessary steps to avoid future casualties”.
The group said Afghan and coalition troops were fully aware of the exact location of the hospital, having been given Global Positioning System co-ordinates of the facility, which had been providing care for four years.
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Campbell is expected to testify about his recommendations on the future of the USA military mission in Afghanistan. He said the USA would continue working with Afghanistan’s government and its overseas partners to promote security in Afghanistan. Officials said the US would not strike without target verification first.
