A baby found after a U.S. raid in Afghanistan was adopted by a Marine. Documents reveal details that have thrust this raid into a controversy over who exactly the military killed that night, and whether they ever tried to find out.
Night raids have long been a particularly controversial tactic, said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Military investigations into who was killed in night raids were rare, and even more rarely made public. Gossman said a representative of the U.S. military told her American soldiers hardly ever returned to the scene of a raid to see if civilians were killed.
“Now that I come here and look at these places, they do not leave my eyes,” he said. “My heart is very sad.” Abdul Khaliq stands near a destroyed home in a remote village in Afghanistan on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. Restaurant workers wait for customers in a market in Afghanistan, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.
Years and ages can be difficult to calculate in Afghanistan, which uses different calendars than much of the world, but neighbors said the farmer and his family had lived there for a long time. The Afghan government claimed the child, and the U.S. government agreed that the girl, who is referred to in court records as “Baby Doe,”“Baby Doe is a citizen of Afghanistan with biological family in Afghanistan,” attorneys for the federal government wrote in court filings.
“I tried very hard to talk to them, but I couldn’t understand the language,” Rahim said. “There was never a fight or quarrel with them.” The soldiers were targeting three men in two compounds believed to be al-Qaida-affiliated fighters from neighboring Turkmenistan, according to the summary the Masts submitted in court. As soldiers approached, they called out, offering the people inside a chance to surrender, according to the summary. One man was detained.
The blast that blew apart the walls of their home was so powerful that to this day, villagers believe the military dropped a bomb. She burned her shoulder, hand and head. She ran and hid among the animals until the shooting stopped. The stench from the bodies was overwhelming, so villagers scooped up the children and drove the injured to a government hospital. The boy would remain there for a month.
“Often that creates a bias where there’s just a presumption that the people that were hit were, you know, quote unquote, all bad guys,” said Gaston. “And civilians very often tell a different story….that they hit the wrong house.” “We understood at the time that all appropriate procedures had been followed under Afghan law, and that remains our understanding,” the State Department wrote.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden Administration Accused of Lying to Gold Star Family about Marine's Death in AfghanistanA Gold Star mom emotionally accuses Biden officials of deceiving her about her Marine son's death during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Kelly Barnett testifies about the loss of her son, Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, in a suicide attack near Kabul airport.
Read more »
Marine Describes Awkward Encounter with Biden After Losing Limbs in AfghanistanA Marine who survived a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan shares his awkward encounter with President Biden, after losing an arm and a leg during the U.S. military's evacuation from the country.
Read more »
TikTok's 'Yeet Baby' Chris Rooney Found in Mental Health Facility After Being Reported MissingChris Rooney, also known as 'Yeet Baby' on TikTok, has been found in a mental health facility after disappearing last week. His family stated that he was posting about the film 'Sound of Freedom' shortly before his disappearance. The statement also mentioned the difficulties Rooney has been facing in the past 6 months.
Read more »
Global mass of buoyant marine plastics dominated by large long-lived debrisA 3D global marine plastic mass budget suggests that larger items contribute more than 95% of buoyant plastics by mass and are longer lived than previously estimated, which suggests there is no missing sink of marine plastic pollution.
Read more »
Marine Vietnam Veteran and Service Dog Find Comfort in Each OtherSantos Lopez, a Marine Vietnam veteran, and his service dog, Kandi, share an incredible bond and find comfort in each other. When hard times hit, PAWS provided them with care and support. Lopez expresses his gratitude and willingness to donate a million dollars to PAWS for their help.
Read more »
Vermilion Police Department's Marine Patrol Unit rescues 2 from Lake Erie'Please make sure to thoroughly plan any outings out onto Lake Erie; check the weather, check your safety gear, let someone know your plans, and most of all don’t take chances,' the Marine Patrol Unit reminds residents.
Read more »