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 Page 23
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 strike summary
One strike hit Baghlan 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: Baghlan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Ghazni on this day. Khaama Press reported that at least 20 Taliban fighters were killed in a series of air and artillery strikes along the Ghazni-Paktia highway - though it was not clear whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the strikes.
The provincial government's media office reportedly said that at least four airstrikes and one artillery strike were carried out as part of Khalid-3 operations - the Afghan government's security plan.
The statement was said to further note that the Taliban positions targeted were in the Arzoo and Shaliz areas, on the outskirts of Ghazni City.
Three motorcycles, an 82mm artillery and Dshk machine gun were also reportedly destroyed.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
An American airstrike accidentally killed at least eight Afghan police officers in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province - though there is some confusion over the death toll.
According to the New York Times, the police had requested air support following a Taliban attack near their outpost. Col Dave Butler, a spokesperson for the US led mission in Afghanistan told NYT that the Americans had confirmed with Afghan officials that the "areas were clear of friendly forces".
“Unfortunately, they were not, and a tragic accident resulted,” Colonel Butler said in a statement. “Afghan Security Forces as well as Taliban fighters were killed in the strikes. We’re examining the miscommunication to ensure it is not repeated.”
However, Washington Post reported that as many as 18 Afghan police officers were killed in the strike.
Afghan officials in Kabul and Helmand gave conflicting information on the number of casualties, saying that between eight and 18 Afghan personnel were killed and that 14 others were wounded. They said the incident, which took place during a ground battle on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, was under investigation.
An additional 14 people were thought to have been injured in the strike.
It is not clear, however, how many Taliban fighters were killed in the strike.
Helmand Governor, Mohammad Yasin, said that the incident was being investigated.
Two strikes hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Lashkar Gah, Nahr e Saraj district, Helmand province
- Reference: New York Times, Independent, Task & Purpose, Washington Post, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
An airstrike in Faryab province killed one Taliban fighter, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible for the strike.
According to Khaama's "informed military sources" the strike was conducted along Highway 1 and killed a fighter who had been responsible for an attack on Afghan Special Forces.
In it's monthly release of strike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not record any strikes in Faryab on this day.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Highway 1, Faryab province
- Reference: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Eight fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were killed in a Coalition drone strike in Nangarhar province, Xinhua reported.
A statement from the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said that an "unmanned plane of coalition forces" killed eight of the fighters in the province's Khogyani district.
It was said to further note that Abuzar, one of the group's local commanders, was killed in the strike.
According to a later report by Khaama Press, Abu Zar was "one of the most notorious leaders of the terror group who was involved in vicious activities against the local residents besides conducting other terrorist related activities including roadside bombings."
In its monthly release of strike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not record any strikes in Nangarhar on this day.
- Type of strike: Possible US drone strike
- Location: Khogyani district, Nangarhar province
- Reference: Xinhua, Khaama Press, India Blooms News Service, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike hit Parwan 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: Parwan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Five 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
Two strikes 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 strike summary
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 strike summary
One strike hit Zabul province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Zabul on this day. Khaama Press reported that strikes had killed four Taliban fighters - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible. According to Khaama's "informed military sources" on May 15 the strikes took place in Zabul's Now Bahar district over the last 24 hours.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Zabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two strikes 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One strike hit Khost 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: Khost province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Seven 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 strike summary
Nine strikes hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Ghazni on this day. Khaama Press reported that strikes had killed three Taliban fighters and wounded one other - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
According to Khaama's "informed military sources" on May 15, the strikes took place in the last 24 hours.
An earlier Khaama Press report stated that one Taliban fighter had been killed, their later report brought this up to three.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
Three strikes hit Zabul 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: Zabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One strike hit Khost 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: Khost province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
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 strike summary
Five 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 strike summary
One strike hit Farah 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: Farah province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Three 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 strike summary
Nimroz province was hit with 11 strikes 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One strike hit Herat province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Herat around this time. Khaama Press reported that a US strike in Herat killed six Taliban fighters, including the shadow district chief.
Their "informed military sources" said that the strike was carried out in the Shindand district of Herat.
The Shadow District Chief for Parchaman, Hafiz Abdulhaq, was among the six Taliban members that were killed.
The 207th Zafar Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that a "Toyota Carolla type vehicle" was targeted in the Aab Khurmai area of Shindand.
Khaama Press did not give an explicit date for the strike, but reported it on May 13.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Herat province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One 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 strike summary
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 strike summary
Two strikes hit Badghis 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: Badghis province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Two strikes hit Zabul 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: Zabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Three 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 strike summary
Two 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 strike summary
One strike hit Khost 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: Khost province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Six 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 strike summary
One strike hit Ghor 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: Ghor province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Two Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in Herat province, Khaama Press reported.
According to Khaama Press' "informed military sources" the strike was conducted in the Farsi district - though they were not clear as to whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The report also wasn't clear on the day of the strike, however other strikes in the report were from May 11, so we have included this here as well.
In its monthly release of strike data US Forces - Afghanistan did not record any strikes in Herat on May 11, although they did on May 10 - which is recorded below as AFG1804.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Farsi district, Herat province
- Reference: Khaama Press
Two Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in Ghazni province, Khaama Press reported.
According to Khaama Press' "informed military sources" the strike was conducted in the Andar district - though they were not clear as to whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The report also wasn't clear on the day of the strike, however other strikes in the report were from May 11, so we have included this here as well.
In its monthly release of strike data US Forces - Afghanistan did not record any strikes in Ghazni on this day - but they did on May 10, which is recorded below as AFG1803.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Andar district, Ghazni province
- Reference: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Airstrikes in Paktika province killed 20 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
Some were reportedly killed in strikes in the Zurmat district and some in the Barmal district - though Khaama Press did not identify whether US air support or Afghan forces were resposible.
However, Xinhua reported that a NATO-led drone strike in Paktika province struck a Taliban hideout and killed 10 fighters.
Policeman, Shah Mohammad Aryan, told Xinhua that the strike in the Barmal district also destroyed a vehicle.
The US are the only country in the NATO coalition known to be flying strike missions.
In its monthly release of strike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not record any strikes in Paktika on this day.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Barmal district, Paktika province
- Reference: NewsD, Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
A US drone strike killed five people affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group - a faction of Pakistan's Taliban, GeoNews reported.
Two missiles reportedly hit a house in the Laman area, near the border of Pakistan. No further geographical details were given - we have briefly searched for the Laman area and can only find an area of that name in Badghis province, which is near the Turkmenistan border.
One of the group's top commanders, Asadullah alias Shingri, was reportedly among those killed.
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: Laman area, unknown province
- Reference: Newsroom Post, The News
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 strike summary
One strike hit Paktia 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: Paktia province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Seven 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
Four 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 strike summary
