US 'anti-IS' drone strike killed Afghan aid worker, seven children: report

A US drone strike last month in Afghanistan killed an aid worker who was employed for an American company, the New York Times has reported.

Zemari Ahmadi and nine other members of his family, including seven children, died on Aug. 29 when a missile struck his car outside his home in Kabul, according to the newspaper.

The raid - which the US military described as "successful" and admitted that it resulted in civilian casualties - was carried out after hours of surveillance, as US officials suspected Islamic State activity which they believed posed an imminent threat to US forces at Kabul airport.

A suicide blast outside the airport killed 13 American troops and more than 170 Afghans three days earlier.

Ahmadi worked for California-based aid group Nutrition and Education International since 2006. His duties on the day he was killed included dropping off his co-workers at different places across the Afghan capital, according to the director of the company in Afghanistan who was interviewed by the NYT.

What the US military thought were explosives in his vehicle were in fact water cartons that Ahmadi had filled at work and was taking home.

He lived with two of his brothers and their families. According to the Times, all 10 victims were related to him, including three of his own children and five other relatives.

Relatives of Ahmadi told the Times that he and his family were planning to move to the US.

The US Department of Defense has opened its own investigation into the strike.

US troops had completely withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of August after a 20-year presence. The pull-out was marred by violence and chaos, as scenes of Afghans at Kabul airport desperate to leave their country shocked the world.