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 8
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
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
A strike in Ghazni province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
October data link
31 October 2018
The US military released detailed information on its strikes in Afghanistan for the second month in a row.
In a report posted on its website on November 4, the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan said that it had carried out 392 strikes in October 2018 and detailed where and when each one was launched. Casualty information was however not included.
Some terms are mentioned throughout the report. These include tactical unit, which can be described as a group of fighters organised as one unit in combat. It also mentions strikes that "denied the enemy terrain". Last year, a US spokesperson explained to the Bureau what these were, saying: "These strikes are not targeting buildings or people, but to deny the adversary from occupying or traversing an area of land."
For more information on the release of this data please see here.
A strike in Nangarhar province disrupted enemy actions, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Logar province on this day denied the enemy terrain, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
See here for more information on the release of the data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes in Ghazni province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Parwan province destroyed a mortar position, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
- Location: Parwan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes destroyed a tactical unit in Paktika province, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
See here, for more information on the release of this data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktika province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Four strikes destroyed three fighting positions and a cave in Nangarhar province, according to US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes destroyed two caves in Laghman province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Paktika province on this day denied the enemy terrain, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
See here for more information on the release of the data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktika province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes in Ghazni province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Five strikes destroyed a tactical unit in Nangarhar province, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
We had recorded a possible US strike in Nangarhar on this day based on reporting by Khaama Press. It reportedly killed three members of Afghanistan's branch of Islamic State and destroyed a number of light and heavy weapons.
The sourcing didn't meet our methodological standards at the time. The US data now shows strikes did take place, but we cannot be sure whether these includes the alleged strike reported by Khaama Press. We will include a casualty range to reflect the possibility the casualties reported by Khaama Press resulted from one of the confirmed strikes. The US data did not include casualty estimates.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A US drone strike hit a vehicle in Paktia province, leaving five Taliban fighters travelling in the car dead, according to a statement from the 203rd Thunder Corps (part of the Afghan army).
The date of the strike was not clear, but it was reported on October 28.
However, data released by US Forces - Afghanistan showed no strikes in the province on this day or the previous one.
- Type of strike: Possible US strikes
- Location: Yamnai Khel area, Zurmat district, Paktia province
- References: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Nangarhar province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes in Laghman province destroyed three fighting positions, according to US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Ghazni on this day denied the enemy terrain, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
See here for more information on the release of the data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Uruzgan province disrupted enemy activity, according to US data.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike destroyed a vehicle in Paktia province, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
See here for more information on the release of this data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktia province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes in Nimroz province destroyed a vehicle and disrupted enemy action, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of the above data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nimroz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes in Nangarhar province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Kandahar province destroyed a motorcycle and a mortar position, according to US data.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike destroyed three motorcycles in Helmand province, according to US data. There were no additional details.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
At least four militants were killed and two others injured during strikes in Badakhshan province, according to a statement from 201st Silab Corps (part of the Afghan army) and reported by Khaama Press.
It was not clear whether US or Afghan forces carried out the strikes. It was also not clear when the strike hit, but it was reported on October 26.
US data released in November showed no US strikes in this province on this day.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Kiran Majan district, Badakhshan province
- References: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Logar province destroyed a motorcycle, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes destroyed two caves, a weapons cache and a fighting position in Laghman province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Four strikes destroyed four tunnels, three staging areas and a weapons cache in Kandahar province on this day, according to US data. There were no additional details.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike destroyed a motorcycle in Helmand province, according to US data. There were no additional details.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
The US carried out a strike in Kunar province on this day destroying a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
We had recorded a possible drone strike reported by Khaama Press. The news sites reported that the 201st Silab Corps (which is part of the Afghan army) said it was carried out by coalition forces and killed three insurgents and injured a further two in Watapur district.
The sourcing was too vague to include this strike in our database at the time. As we now have a strike confirmed in the province, we will include a range to reflect the possibility the casualties reported by Khaama Press resulted from this strike. The US data did not include casualty estimates.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunar province
- References: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes in Nangarhar destroyed two fighting positions on this day, according to US data.
We had already recorded a possible strike in the province. Khaama Press had reported that US forces carried out a strike killing three members of Afghanistan's branch of Islamic State in Deh Bala district's Payin area. Those killed were allegedly planting IEDs at the time of the strike.
We were unable to record the strike reported by Khaama Press as a confirmed strike due to sourcing issues. It was also unclear on what date it occurred on, although it was reported on October 25. It is possible that it could be one of the strikes included in the US data. As this is a possibility, we have recorded a casualty range. The US data does not have casualty figures.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes destroyed two fighting positions, two caves and a weapons cache in Laghman province on this day, according to US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Khost province suppressed enemy action, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Khost province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes destroyed two motorcycles in Helmand province, according to US data. There were no additional details.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Up to 13 civilians were killed in when Afghan intelligence (NDS) unit "02" called in an airstrike in coordination with their ground operation in Nangarhar, the Bureau reported.
One of those caught up in the raid told the Bureau it started with an air strike. “First, they attacked us with bombs. Then they entered the living room and started to shoot around,” said Jamal Khan. “They didn't care about who they were killing. They killed my uncle and his 9-year-old son. His wife and his other child were injured.” Khan said his uncle was a guard at a government run school in Rodat, the Nangarhar district where the incident took place.
Another man told us he lost seven relatives in the same operation. "My uncles had a pharmacy in our village," said Abdul Samad. "Nobody had any connections with insurgent groups. They were innocent people."
The interior ministry claimed only fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were killed.
We are unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes as none of the people that we spoke to were able to positively identify whether it was a US or Afghan strike.
- Type of strike: Possible US airstrike
- Location: Shahidanu Mena, Rodat district, Nangarhar province
- References: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
Two strikes in Parwan province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
- Location: Parwan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Two strikes destroyed a fighting position and denied the enemy terrain in Laghman province, according to US data.
Last year, a US spokesperson explained to the Bureau what a "terrain denial" strike was. He said, "These strikes are not targeting buildings or people, but to deny the adversary from occupying or traversing an area of land."
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
AFG805C link
23 October 2018
Khaama Press reported that three Taliban fighters were critically injured in strikes in Kabul province, but it was not clear whether the strike was carried out by Afghan or US forces.
Khaama Press based their reporting on a statement from the 201st Silab Corps, which is part of the Afghan army.
It was not clear when the strike took place but the information was released on October 23. However, data released from the US showed no strikes in the province on the day, or the day before.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Surobi district, Kabul province
- References: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Eight strikes destroyed three caves, two vehicles and a tactical unit in Nuristan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
See here, for more information on the release of this data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nuristan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Nangarhar province destroyed a weapons cache, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Logar province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Five strikes hit Laghman province on this day destroying four fighting positions and two mortar positions, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Kunar province destroyed a fighting position, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.No additional details were provided.
See here for more information on the release of this data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A house-borne improvised explosive device (HBIED) was destroyed in a strike in Kandahar province, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
A HBIED refers to a house rigged with explosives.
No additional details were provided.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Helmand province destroyed a vehicle, according to US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
At least five Taliban members, including a commander were killed in a strike in Farah province, according to Mohibullah Mohib, the province's police spokesperson.
The strike was carried out by "foreign forces", according to the report published in Afghan Islamic Press and found via BBC Monitoring. The US is the only known foreign country to be carrying out strike missions in Afghanistan.The dead commander was identified as Aqeel, who the spokesperson said had been planning attacks in Delaram district of neighbouring Nimruz province.
However, data released by the US military on its strikes in October shows no strikes in this province on this day. Therefor we have included this strike here as a possible strike.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Bakwa district, Farah province
- References: Afghan Islamic Press via BBC Monitoring, US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Zabul province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data fromUS Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of this data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Zabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press releas
A strike in Wardak province destroyed a vehicle, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Wardak province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
Three strikes destroyed a tactical unit in Paktia province, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
See here, for more information on the release of this data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktia province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
A strike in Nangarhar province destroyed a tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
For more information on the release of data, see here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan press release
