Afghanistan: Reported US covert actions 2018
The timeline below contains information on all US air attacks on Afghanistan recorded by the Bureau in 2018. It is updated with the latest US air attacks. We also log Afghan Air Force attacks when they are reported. The Bureau collects information on the US and Afghan strikes and the people they kill from local and international media reports – including the Bureau’s own field investigations – as well as academics and NGOs that cite US, Afghan and Pakistani civil, military and intelligence officials, and witnesses and local people in the affected areas.
Please note that our data changes according to our current understanding of particular strikes. The information below represents our present best estimate.
Background
US aircraft have been bombing Afghanistan since late 2001 and the airstrikes have continued into the Trump administration. Up until December 2014 the US was operating in concert with its allies in the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force. Now it is just the US, and the Afghans, flying strike missions in the country.
The Bureau began tracking the strikes from January 1 2015 onwards, when the US and Nato’s combat mission in Afghanistan came to an end. The Afghan military and police took the lead in fighting the Taliban with the US and its international partners moving into a non-combat “train, advise, assist” role, supporting local forces.
US air forces are still flying combat missions however. There are three targeting authorities that govern the kind of strikes the US can conduct in Afghanistan.
Force protection strikes are intended to protect friendly ground forces who are under attack, or are about to be attacked. From January 1 2015 the US was supposed to stop deliberately going after the Taliban, leaving that to the Afghans. But in June 2016, with the Taliban pushing the Afghan forces to breaking point, the US went on the offensive against the Taliban, under “strategic effect” strikes.
The third authority governs the US’s counter-terrorism strikes, part of its offensive operations against al Qaeda and, since January 2016, Afghanistan’s Islamic State offshoot.
Full data
The Bureau publishes a narrative timeline of US strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen each year. Links for all other timelines can be found here.
We also publish spreadsheets detailing casualty numbers in each country. You can download the entire Afghanistan sheet here.
| Strikes recorded by the Bureau | |
|---|---|
| Total reported strikes | 1985-1986 |
| Total reported killed | 767-1060 |
| Civilians reported killed | 92-163 |
| Children reported killed | 14-51 |
| Total reported injured | 106-166 |
| Total Close Air Support (CAS) sorties with at least one weapon release | 783 |
| Total CAS sorties | 6,584 |
| Total weapons released | 5982 |
Strikes Page 5
Seven strikes hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
One of these is believed to have caused a high number of civilian casualties. That strike has been recorded in entry AFG966. This entry records the remaining six strikes.
No further details were given on these. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Four strikes hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
AFG981 link
27 November 2018
- 14-32 reported killed
- 14-23 civilians reported killed, including 0-10 children
- 3 reported injured
A US airstrike in Helmand's Garmsir district killed 23 civilians, including 10 children, according to a UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report.
The US military later admitted that this strike killed 14 civilians and injured three others in their annual report on civilian casualties.
The strike hit during an operation involving Afghan and international forces, with the US carrying out a strike during a fire-fight on the ground. The US has stated that a secondary explosion occurred after the strike, which they put down to explosives being inside the compound hit.
UNAMA spoke to a relative of the victims and witness of the strike, who said:
On 27 November, from the start of the evening helicopters were circling in the air. At approximately 22h00 a jet arrived. I myself heard the sound and saw it. The jet conducted an airstrike on a civilian house, where my brother’s family was present too. We were not able to go right after the incident, but went there early in the morning, at 5h00. I saw that all rooms collapsed, and children and women were under the mud. We started pulling them out from it. Most of them were children who were killed and the majority were burnt. My 8-year-old nephew was injured and we brought him to the hospital. He is badly burnt. At the time of the incident some Taliban were crossing the area and international military forces might have targeted them, but they bombarded the civilian house. The area is totally controlled by the Taliban and we are not allowed to use mobile services.
Local media reported on the strike shortly after the incident, saying it hit a civilian home. An unnamed local official said 16 civilians were killed in that strike, which they said was carried out by "foreign forces" (the US is the only known force to be carrying out strike missions aside the Afghans). A further 16 Taliban members were also killed, according to the official.
Helmand Governor Mohammad Yasin Khan confirmed civilian and Taliban casualties in an air strike, although he did not specify whether Afghan or US forces carried out the strike.
One resident, going by the name of Nafi, said the strike hit the house of Haji Akhtar Mohammad, killing 17 people including women and guests. The brother of Haji Akhtar Mohammad said 30 people were killed, including guests. “Only a kid and a dog of the house survived the attack, all others killed and the house totally destroyed,” he told Pajhwok.
A doctor in Lashkargah Emergency Hospital said one injured child was transferred to the hospital from the incident area. “Family members of this child told me that more than 20 people killed in an airstrike on their house as many of them were still trapped under the ground,” he reportedly said.
The Taliban also confirmed the incident. The group’s spokesman said that bombardments happened in Goshta and Zanziri Drab areas of Garmsir district last night. He said that an airstrike targeted the house of a local resident named Akhtar Mohammad and killed 23 people including children and women.
The US responded to the initial reports stating:
We are still looking into the situation in Garm Sir, Helmand. Initial reports show that Afghan Special Security Forces were conducting an operation last night with American advisors when the Taliban fired at them. The shooters were armed with RPG's and heavy machine guns when they retreated into a compound and continued firing at the partnered force. In self-defense, the ground force called an air strike. After the strike, there were secondary explosions, we assess from explosives inside the compound. At the time of the strike, the ground force was unaware of any civilians in or around the compound; they only knew that the Taliban was using the building as a fighting position. The Taliban continue to use civilians, especially children, as a protective measure.
We investigate every credible allegation of error and review every mission to learn, adapt and improve. We are the most precise force in the history of warfare, ever, but this is not enough for us - we seek to improve and match higher standards every day. The most effective way to end the suffering of non-combatants is to end the fighting through reconciliation
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Zanziri Daryab, Garmser district, Helmand province
- References: Pajhwok, UNAMA, Resolute Support spokesperson, UNAMA report
Five strikes hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here:
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Fourteen strikes hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Laghman province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kandahar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here:
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
The US carried out six strikes in Kapisa province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan. No further details were given.
Pajhwok had reported civilian casualties from a strike in the province, but it was not clear whether it had been carried out by Afghan or US forces. It was also not clear when it took place, but it was reported on this day.
We have recored a civilian casualty range from 0 to 2 to reflect the possibility the Pajhwok article was referring to the US strikes.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kapisa province
- References: Pajhwok, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Paktika province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktika province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Nimroz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nimroz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Elven strikes hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Logar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kunar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kapisa province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kapisa province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Major Mohammad Haroon Yousufzai, a spokesperson for an Afghan army division, said a foreign forces strike hit a Taliban hideout in Laghman province.
The spokesperson said a local Taliban commander, who he named as Abdul Jabbar, and five other insurgents were killed in the strike. Some weapons and ammunition was also destroyed.
The US is the only known country to be carrying out strike missions in Afghanistan, aside from the Afghans. However, US data showed no strikes on this day in Laghman. It was therefor be recorded here as a possible strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Slingar area, Alishing district, Laghman province
- References: Pajhwok, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Five strikes hit Nimroz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nimroz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Laghman province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here:
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Kapisa province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kapisa province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Kandahar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here:
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
AFG959 link
24 November 2018
- 2 civilians reported killed, including 1 child
- 13 civilians reported injured, including 10 children
A strike hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
This likely refers to a strike in which 13 civilians were injured - ten children, an elderly man, and two women, one of whom was pregnant. Two others were killed, including a 15-year-old boy.
The strike hit a family home. It appears that two Taliban fighters ran into the compound the house was in and fired at a convoy of Afghan and US forces. A US strike was then called in.
“We know US forces, accompanying their Afghan security partners, called in self-defence air support against a building from which the Taliban were shooting,” a US military spokesperson told the Bureau. “Too often the Taliban use civilians as hostages and human shields.”
We delved into what happened in this incident, working with photo journalist Andrew Quilty who documented the family's struggle to recover.
The US military later admitted that four civilians were injured in a strike in Helmand on this day in their annual report on civilian casualties.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Nad Ali, Helmand
- References: Twitter, US Forces - Afghanistan press release, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, DoD annual report on civilian casualties
Two strikes hit Paktika province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktika province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kapisa province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kapisa province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kandahar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Nimroz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nimroz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Five strikes hit Kandahar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Takhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Takhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A US strike was called in by Afghan special forces in Logar province against Taliban fighters, Associated Press reported.
Provincial council chief Mohammad Nasir Ghyrat says 10 died in that airstrike but reportedly said that it isn't immediately how many civilians were among the dead.
However data later released by US Forces - Afghanistan showed no US strikes in Logar province on this day.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: Associated Press, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Wardak province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Wardak province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Paktiya province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktiya province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Nimroz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nimroz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes hit Logar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike hit Kandahar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Five strikes hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Four strikes hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes hit Paktika province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here:
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktika province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
