U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a senior-level review of the investigation that found 10 Afghan civilians were killed in an Aug. 29 U.S. drone strike in Kabul that the Pentagon initially said had killed an Islamic State fighter.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that Austin told the Air Force to appoint an officer at three- or four-star rank to review the Central Command investigation, which examined in detail the chronology of events leading to the tragedy.

The main findings were that only Afghan civilians were killed and that the U.S. military had been mistaken in its belief that the white Toyota Corolla it tracked for hours and then struck with a Hellfire missile was a valid threat.

The head of Central Command, Gen. Frank McKenzie, announced Friday that his investigation had determined that the vehicle targeted by the drone had initially been spotted at a known Islamic State compound in Kabul and was tracked by U.S. intelligence for eight hours.

“U.S. confession of the deadly attack on civilians in my house virtually demonstrates its arrogance in targeting innocent civilians. Killing civilians is a blatant crime and the perpetrators must be brought to justice,” Emal Ahmadi, brother of late Zamarai Ahmadi, told Xinhua.

Zamarai, along with nine members of his family, including seven children aged 2-15 years, was killed in the U.S. drone attack.

“Offering apology is not enough. The U.S. Government should pay compensation besides bringing to justice the perpetrators,” said Emal, whose 3-year-old daughter was also killed.

The targeted house accommodated four brothers, and all victims belonged to the family, Ahmadi said, adding that the seven children, including three of late Zamarai’s, were killed inside the parked car in the deadly airstrike.

Zamarai was just returning home from office when the drone fired.

“By targeting civilian house and killing civilians, including innocent children, the U.S. military committed a big mistake. Killing civilians is a war crime and those committed the crime should be booked and brought to justice and should be punished,” Emal said.

“I want compensation for the victims and demand punishment for the perpetrators of the crime that the U.S. officials have termed as a big mistake. And if ignored, I would pursue the case at international level, and approach to all concerned judiciary organizations to ensure justice,” Emal said.

In support of Emal’s demands, Abdul Aziz, a local defense lawyer, sees killing civilians as a war crime, saying those behind the crime must be brought to justice. (SD-Xinhua)