Afghanistan: Reported US covert actions 2019
The timeline below contains information on all US air attacks on Afghanistan recorded by the Bureau in 2019. 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 | 4251 |
| Total reported killed | 58-2954 |
| Civilian reported killed | 22-249 |
| Children reported killed | 11-47 |
| Total reported injured | 35-614 |
| Total Close Air Support (CAS) sorties with at least one weapon release | 1548 |
| Total CAS sorties | 5659 |
| Total weapons released | 4483 |
Strikes
Four Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrikes in Wardak province, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that one strike was carried out in the Maidan Shah district, that killed two and the other in Chak e Wardak, which killed the other two.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Maidan Shah district & Chak e Wardak district, Wardak province
- References: Khaama Press
Six fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were killed in a drone strike in Nangarhar province, Xinhua reported.
While the report did not make an effort to identify the warplane, it did state that it was an unmanned plane - the US are the only known country to be flying armed drones in Afghanistan.
An army statement reportedly said the strike hit an IS hideout in Suliman Khil area, Pachir Agam district.
MENAFN reported that Provincial Governor Spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, confirmed the drone strike and death toll - however, he again did not attribute responsibility.
We are currently unable to record this incident in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing and the possibility of it being an Afghan strike from a manned plane.
Airstrikes and an armed clash in northern Balkh province killed at least 12 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The 209th Shaheen Corps reportedly said in a statement that airstrikes targeted a Taliban gathering at around 7:00 pm local time in Kohna, Chamtal district.
It is not clear how many died in the strikes and how many died in the armed clash.
No reference was made as to who conducted the strikes.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Kohna, Chamtal district, Balkh province
- References: Khaama Press
Three civilians were allegedly killed in an NDS raid supported by unidentified aircraft, local residents claimed to Tolo News.
Residents in Laghman held a demonstration to protest the killing of the civilians, which they said was carried out by the 02 unit of the NDS in the Alingar district.
“They came at night and the aircraft started attacking. One of my brothers was martyred,” said Hamid Niazi, a protestor.
“All those killed in the operation are the poor,” said another protestor, Siraj Niazi.
The NDS reportedly denied carrying out a raid on Wednesday.
The NDS often has US air support, however, there is every possibility that it could have been Afghan air support.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Alingar district, Laghman province
- References: Tolo News
Airstrikes in Wardak province destroyed four weapon caches, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were carried out in the Jaghatoo district, but made no reference as to who was responsible.
The strikes were carried out at some point over the last 24 hours, they said - it is therefore not clear whether it was October 8 or 7.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Jaghatoo district, Wardak province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Helmand province killed two Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was carried out in the Marjah district, but made no reference as to who carried out the strike.
The strikes were carried out at some point over the last 24 hours, they said - it is therefore not clear whether it was October 8 or 7.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Marjah district, Helmand province
- References: Khaama Press
Four Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in Ghazni province, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Aab Band district.
It was also said to have destroyed a weapons cache and a car bomb.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
The strikes were carried out at some point over the last 24 hours, they said - it is therefore not clear whether it was October 8 or 7.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Aab Band district, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Zabul killed 11 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
No reference was made as to who carried out the strike.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Now Bahar district of the province at some point over the past 24 hours, we therefore cannot be sure if it was on October 8 or 7.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Now Bahar district, Zabul province
- References: Khaama Press
At least six fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were reportedly killed in a drone strike in Nangarhar province, Sputnik reported.
The local governor's office reportedly said in a statement that the attack happened overnight from the 7th-8th in the Khogyani district.
A weapons depot was also said to have been destroyed.
It is not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible. The US are the only known country to be flying armed drones in Afghanistan - however, drone strikes can often be a catch-all phrase for airstrikes.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Khogyani district, Nangarhar province
- References: Sputnik
An airstrike in western Farah killed the Taliban's military commission chief as well as three of his senior leaders, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The provincial police headquarters reportedly said in a statement that the security forces carried out the strike targeting a vehicle in Nal Dasht Village of Khak e Safid district.
The military commission chief for 20 provinces was named as Mawlavi Kamran. The three other leaders were named as Mawlavi Samad, Mawlavi Dawood and Mawlavi Akhundzaa.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Nal Dasht village, Khak e Safid district, Farah province
- References: Khaama Press, United News of India
Afghan and US forces carried out an airstrike in Nangarhar province that killed one of the Taliban Red Unit's senior commanders for Ghazni.
A statement released by the NDS (Afghanistan's intelligence agency) reportedly said that Mawlavi Edris, alias, Abu Yousuf, was the commander killed.
He was said to have a "major role in planning and coordinating suicide attacks and explosions as well as deploying suicide bombers to Kabul."
It is not clear whether US or Afghan planes were responsible for the strike, which intercepted Edris when in Khogyani, Nangarhar.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Khogyani district, Nangarhar province
- References: Khaama Press
A child was killed in a US airstrike in Ghazni province, the US has confirmed.
US air support was called in when a partnered ground operation came under fire in the Andar district.
At 6:50pm local time US forces came under RPG and small arms fire.
“Once the threat was eliminated by a precision strike, ground forces were able to enter the compound,” the USFOR-A press desk said, adding that “They determined three Taliban fighters and one minor were killed.”
"Minors are not automatically classified as civilians, however in this case the minor was determined to be a non-combatant bystander who was put in harm’s way by Taliban fighters," the statement read.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first admission of civilian harm since March.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Andar district, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press, Resolute Support via email
US airstrikes in northern Balkh province killed 42 Taliban fighters and wounded another 35, Khaama Press reported.
The provincial government reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were carried out to support the Afghan forces who were responding to a coordinated Taliban attack on security posts.
They hit the Baghak Zone located in the outskirts of Qala-e Naw, the provincial capital of Badghis.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Baraki district, Logar province
- References: Khaama Press
Airstrikes in Ghazni province killed seven Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Giro district of Ghazni.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Giro district, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press
Airstrikes in Logar province killed seven Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Baraki district of Logar.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Baraki district, Logar province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Zabul province injured one Taliban fighter, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Qalat district of Zabul.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Qalat district, Zabul province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Balkh province killed eight Taliban fighters and wounded five others, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The 209th Shaheen Corps reportedly said in a statement that the security forces carried out the strike in the Asyab Sharaf Village of Chemtal district.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Chimtal district, Balkh province
- References: Khaama Press
A US airstrike killed 15 Taliban fighters in the Podeni area of Arghandab, Kandahar province, The New York Times reported.
NYT further reported that the Taliban had earlier attacked a security outpost in the Babro area of Arghandab district, killing two police officers and wounding another.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Podeni area, Arghandab district, Kandahar province
- References: New York Times Afghan War Casualty Report
Airstrikes in Farah province destroyed three car bombs, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were carried out in the Bara Boluk district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Bara Boluk district, Farah province
- References: Khaama Press
Three Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in Kandahar province, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Shorabak district.
A later NYT report, which seems to have been referring to this strike, claimed that the strike hit the Saidan area of Shurabak district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Saidan area, Shorabak district, Kandahar province
- References: Khaama Press
Two Taliban fighters were killed in airstrikes in Helmand province, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were carried out in the Nahr e Saraj district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Nahr e Saraj district, Helmand province
- References: Khaama Press
Airstrikes in Nangarhar province killed six members of Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said in a statement that the strike was carried out in the Khogyani district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Khogyani district, Nangarhar province
- References: Khaama Press
A US strike in Uruzgan province killed three Taliban fighters and wounded five others, Khaama Press reported.
The 205th Atal Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the fighters were affiliated with Mullah Ismail and Haji Rasool. Three motorcycles and four weapons were also destroyed.
The strike was said to have been in the Khanqa area of Tarin kot district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Khanqa area, Tarin kot district, Uruzgan province
- References: Khaama Press
Two Taliban fighters were killed and another injured in US airstrikes in Logar province, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were conducted in the Nanwayi area of Charkh district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Nanwayi area, Charkh district, Logar province
- References: Khaama Press
US airstrikes in Ghazni province killed 17 Taliban fighters and wounded three others, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were conducted in the Arzoo area, on the outskirts of Ghazni City, as well as the Andar and Deh Yak districts.
Four Taliban motorcycles were also reportedly destroyed in the strikes.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Arzoo area, Ghazni City, Andar district & Deh Yak district
- References: Khaama Press
Two Taliban fighters were killed in airstrikes in Helmand province, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were conducted in the Nahr e Saraj district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Nahr e Saraj district, Helmand province
- References: Khaama Press
Airstrikes in Logar province killed two Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were carried out in the Pul e Alam district and Baraki Barak districts and also destroyed a Taliban car bomb.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Pul e Alam & Baraki Barak districts, Logar province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Herat province killed three Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was carried out in the Shindand district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Shindand district, Herat province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Takhar province killed five Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
A later NYT article also reported a US strike in Takhar on this day.
A security outpost in Baharak District was mistakenly bombed by an American airstrike, killing seven pro-government militia members and wounding seven others. Local authorities claimed that the Taliban suffered casualties when American airstrikes targeted their positions in the district.
It is not clear whether the reports are referring to the same incident. We are currently unable to record either of these in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Takhar province
- References: Khaama Press, NYT Afghan War Casualty Report
An airstrike in Ghor province killed nine Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was carried out in the Dowlatyar district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this incident, so we have recorded it as the date that they reported on it.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Dowlatyar district, Ghor province
- References: Khaama Press
US airstrikes in Ghazni province killed 9 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that they carried out strikes in the Qarabaghi and Liwan areas of Ghazni city.
An 82mm mortar and three motorcycles were also destroyed in the strikes.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that they reported on it.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Qarabaghi & Liwan ares, Ghazni city, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press
A US airstrike in Wardak province killed 20 Taliban fighters and injured eight others, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the strike was conducted in the Jalrez district.
The strike was also said to have destroyed a Dskh machine gun, 11 motorcycles and a vehicle.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that they reported on it.
We are currently unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Jalrez district, Wardak province
- References: Khaama Press
A US airstrike in Ghazni province killed six civilians, local villagers claimed to AP journalists - though the US military claim the strikes killed 11 Taliban fighters.
Ahmad Khan Serat, the spokesperson for Ghazni's police chief, reportedly said that dozens of people marched from the Khoja Omari district to bring the five bodies to local authorities in the regional capital.
The villagers were said to have been chanting "Death to Ashraf Ghani, death to America," as they carried the bodies to the provincial capital.
The sixth person reportedly died from his wounds in hospital soon after.
Shakaruddin Khan lost a son and a brother in the attack - he described a drone attack the overnight to AP.
The following morning the US military in Kabul reportedly confirmed the attack, saying that airstrikes in the nearby Khoja Omari and Khogyani districts killed 11 Taliban fighters, but did not confirm civilian casualties.
A separate Khaama Press report may be referring to the strike in Khogyani. They reported that prominent Taliban leader, Mawlavi Abdul Hanan, had been killed in an airstrike in Khogyani, according to the Ministry of Defence.
We will reach out to Resolute Support for their civilian casualty assessment for this incident and update this post when any further information comes to light.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Khoja Omari district, Ghazni province
- References: AP, Khaama Press
An airstrike in Faryab province killed eight Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Pashtun Kot district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Pashton Kut district, Faryab province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Paktia province killed eight Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Dzadran district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Dzadran district, Paktia province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Uruzgan province killed ten Taliban fighters and wounded another, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Khas Uruzgan district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Khas Uruzgan district, Uruzgan province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Balkh province killed 14 Taliban fighters and injured 20 others, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the security forces carried out the strike at around 10:15pm local time in the Chimtal district.
Gul Nabi Mubarez, a local Taliban commander in Chimtal was said to have been among those killed. According to the Shaheen Corps, he was planning an attack with his fighters on election sites in Balkh province.
Ten motorcycles and other military equipment were also destroyed.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Chimtal district, Balkh province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Balkh province killed five Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Balkh district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Balkh district, Balkh province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Farah province killed two Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Ala’ah-ye Kah district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Ala’ah-ye Kah district, Farah province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Badghis province killed five Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Jawand district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Jawand district, Badghis province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Ghazni province killed six Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was carried out in the Qarabagh district and also destroyed a car bomb.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that they reported on it.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Qarabagh district, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Samangan province killed 10 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was carried out in the Daray-ye Suf- Pa’in district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Daray-ye Suf- Pa’in district, Samangan province
- References: Khaama Press
US forces carried out airstrikes in Ghazni province that killed at least 27 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the US carried out the strikes in Deh Yak, Andar and Qarabagh districts and Asfandi area located in the outskirts of Ghazni city.
The strikes were also reported to have destroyed 10 motorcycles and a vehicle.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this incident, so we have recorded it as the date that they reported on it.
We are currently unable to record this incident in our database due to vague sourcing.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Asfandi area, Ghazni city, Deh Yak, Andar & Qarabagh districts
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Wardak province killed one Taliban fighter, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Sayyidabad district of the province at some point over the past 24 hours, we therefore cannot be sure if it was on September 24 or 25.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Sayyidabad district, Wardak province
- References: Khaama Press
Airstrikes in two districts of Ghazni province killed six Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said in a statement that security forces carried out the strikes in the Andar and Qarabagh districts. The strikes were carried out at some point over the last 24 hours, they said - it is therefore not clear whether it was September 24 or 25.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Andar & Qarabagh districts, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press
Twelve Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in Faryab province, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Qaram Qol district of the province at some point over the past 24 hours, we therefore cannot be sure if it was on September 24 or 25.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Qaram Qol district, Faryab province
- References: Khaama Press
Airstrikes in Sar e Pul province killed 20 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strikes in the Sar e Pul district of the province at some point over the past 24 hours, we therefore cannot be sure if it was on September 24 or 25.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Sar e Pul district, Sar e Pul province
- References: Khaama Press
A US backed raid in Musa Qala, Helmand province killed as many as 40 civilians - though the reporting of what happened is somewhat contradictory as the attack happened in a Taliban controlled area, making witnesses difficult to reach.
The head of the provincial council in Helmand, Haji Attaullah Afghan, said that two cars travelling in convoy to a wedding were fired upon by military helicopters with civilians dying in both cars.
Abdul Motalib, a villager in Helmand corroborated this, claiming that he was in one of the two cars. He said that they were on their way to the bride's home when then military helicopters opened fire on them. In one vehicle, 15 women and children were killed, while five men were killed in the other.
“First they targeted the vehicle carrying women and children, then the vehicle with the men,” he said. He survived because he had exited one of the stopped vehicles to seek cover in a corn field, he said
Mr Afghan, the provincial council leader, said that between the vehicle incident and a separate incident nearby, 40 civilians were killed and 12 more injured.
“This is inhumane, whoever carried out this airstrike,” Mr. Afghan said. He said the wedding party vehicles were fired upon even though they had shown security forces that they were civilians.
However, a separate narrative of the events is being told by US and Afghan forces.
Defence officials in Washington have reportedly conceded that civilians had probably been killed on Sunday [22] night, but that they had likely been killed in secondary explosions from an insurgent weapons depot that had been targeted by US strikes.
A spokesperson for the Helmand governor, Omar Zwak, said that an undetermined number of civilians were killed from the explosion at the weapons depot.
The Afghan defence ministry also reportedly confirmed the commando operation and said that 22 Taliban fighters from Pakistan and Bangladesh were killed, including Taliban’s explosives chief for Helmand and two of his deputies.
The 215th Maiwand Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that Afghan forces had attacked a joint Taliban-Al Qaeda compound and captured five Al Qaeda members. It further said that that an insurgent suicide bomber had killed two women, and that a third woman had died when the weapons depot exploded.
The Helmand governor’s office said that four top Taliban commanders and the Taliban shadow governor of Musa Qala were killed.
The United States military issued a statement on Monday confirming its role in the operation and the presence of foreign fighters.
“U.S. forces partnered with Afghan security forces in an operation against Al Qaeda terrorists in Musa Qala in Helmand last night,” the military said, adding that “several foreigners associated with Al Qaeda were detained, including multiple persons from Pakistan and one from Bangladesh.”
It said that American forces had conducted “precision strikes against barricaded terrorists firing on Afghan and U.S. forces,” and that most of those killed were believed to have “died from Al Qaeda weapons” or insurgents’ suicide vests and other explosives.
“The incident is under investigation with our Afghan partners,” the military said.
Two weeks later the BBC reported that Asim Umar, Al Qaeda's South Asia chief was killed in this joint US-Afghan raid in Musa Qala, according to the NDS. Neither the US or Al Qaeda had confirmed the death.
The Taliban denied the news of Asim Umar's death. A spokesman dismissed it as "enemy-fabricated propaganda", instead alleging that the raid "only caused heavy civilian losses".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Musa Qala district, Helmand province
- References: The New York Times, BBC
An airstrike in Logar province killed four Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were conducted in the Baraki Barak district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Baraki Barak district, Logar province
- References: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Ghazni province killed two Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were conducted in the Khogyani district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Khogyani district, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press
