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 25
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 strike summary
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
One 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 strike summary
One strike hit Badakhshan 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: Badakhshan 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 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 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 disrupted" was conducted in Kunar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Kunar on this day.
At least 56 fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were killed in multiple airstrikes in Kunar province, Khaama Press reported.
The Afghan Ministry of Defence reportedly said in a statement that the strikes targeted two training camps in the Chapa Dara district.
Several Pakistani and Uzbek nationals were among those killed.
The statement further noted that one prominent Uzbek national, Ismail, who was previously cooperating with al Qaeda, was one of the killed.
A later Khaama Press report provided a more detailed breakdown, reporting that the MoD claims:
- 43 were killed and two wounded in the Chapara district
- Five were killed and six wounded in the Manogi district
It was unclear from Khaama Press' report whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
Four 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 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
Two strikes hit Faryab 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: Faryab province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Four strikes hit Baghlan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strikes in Baghlan on this day. Khaama Press reported that a number of "militants" had been killed in strikes in the Burkah district.
Strikes in Baghlan, Uruzgan and Zabul killed 33 "militants", but it is currently unknown how many died in each province or which insurgency group they were from. We have included a casualty range to reflect the ambiguity here, as well as in the entries for Uruzgan and Baghlan. However in our dataset we have only included the 0-33 range on one of the entries, so not to skew the figures.
A Khaama Press report the following day mentions 19 Taliban fighters being killed in the Borka district of Baghlan, but it is unclear whether it is the same strike as the one mentioned here, or another one the day after.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Baghlan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
Two strikes hit Zabul province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strikes in Zabul on this day. Khaama Press reported that a number of "militants" had been killed in strikes in the Sinkay district.
Strikes in Zabul, Uruzgan and Baghlan killed 33 "militants", but it is currently unknown how many died in each province or which insurgency group they were from. We have included a casualty range to reflect the ambiguity here, as well as in the entries for Uruzgan and Baghlan. However in our dataset we have only included the 0-33 range on one of the entries, so not to skew the figures.
A Khaama Press report the following day mentions 19 Taliban fighters being killed in the Borka district of Baghlan, but it is unclear whether it is the same strike as the one mentioned here, or another one the day after.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Zabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
Three 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
Five strikes hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strikes in Uruzgan on this day. Khaama Press reported that a number of "militants" had been killed in strikes in the Tarin Kot district.
Strikes in Uruzgan, Zabul and Baghlan killed 33 "militants", but it is currently unknown how many died in each province or which insurgency group they were from. We have included a casualty range to reflect the ambiguity here, as well as in the entries for Uruzgan and Baghlan. However in our dataset we have only included the 0-33 range on one of the entries, so not to skew the figures.
A Khaama Press report the following day mentions 19 Taliban fighters being killed in the Borka district of Baghlan, but it is unclear whether it is the same strike as the one mentioned here, or another one the day after.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
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 strike summary
Four 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
Four 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
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 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 airstrikes carried out by the "coalition" in Ghazni killed 11 Taliban fighters.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the airstrikes were carried out Malik Khel area of Waghez district and Sangasi area of Moqor district.
A further Taliban fighter was injured, a motorcycle and a vehicle destroyed, it further noted.
Khaama Press is likely referring to the Nato coalition in which the US are the only known country to be flying strike missions.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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
Operations that included airstrikes killed nine Taliban fighters and wounded another eight in Badghis province, Khaama Press reported.
The 207th Zafar Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said that the strikes were conducted in the Qads district.
It is unclear whether the fighters were killed and injured as a result of the strike, artillery fire or another part of the operation.
It is also unclear whether the strikes were conducted by US or Afghan forces.
In its monthly release of strike data US Forces - Afghanistan did not record any strikes in Badghis on this day.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Qads district, Badghis province
- Reference: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike 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 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 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 Faryab 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: Faryab province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
An airstrike in Herat left at least 11 Taliban fighters dead, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible for the strike.
The 207th Zafar Corps reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were "targeting the fighters of Abdul Rahman alias Maldar, the military commission chief of Taliban for the district".
A Toyota Land Cruiser was also destroyed in the strike according to the statement, as well as 11 Taliban fighters being killed.
One of the fighters killed, the statement said, was the nephew of Abdul Rahman.
In its monthly release of strike data US Forces - Afghanistan did not record any strikes in Herat on this day.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Chesht district, Herat province
- Reference: Khaama Press
Two strikes hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Uruzgan on this day. Khaama Press reported that airstrikes in Tarin Kot killed 11 Taliban fighters, according to their "informed military sources". No further details were given in their report.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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 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
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
Four strikes hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Ghazni on this day. Khaama Press reported that six Taliban fighters were killed in a strike in Deh Yak district. No further details were given in the report.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike hit Faryab 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: Faryab province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike 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 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
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 strike summary
Nine strikes hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Nangarhar on this day. Khaama Press reported that four Taliban fighters were killed in separate airstrikes in the province - though it had been unclear in their report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible.
According to Khaama Press' "informed military sources" the strikes were conducted in the Khogyani and Achin districts of the province.
Khaama Press did not provide a specific date for this strike so we have recorded it as the date that they reported on it.
It is unclear how many of the four Taliban fighters died in each strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar 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
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
Six strikes hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Uruzgan around this time. Khaama Press reported that airstrikes in the province had killed between 11 and 12 fighters - they didn't provide a date for the strikes but reported it on this day.
Their "informed military sources" stated that the strikes were conducted in Tarin Kot. Though it had been unclear in their report whether US air support or Afghan forces had been responsible for the strike.
A later Khaama Press report brought initial death toll of 11 up to 12 Taliban fighters killed - there were no further details.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
Four strikes hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Nangarhar around this time. Khaama Press reported that three Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in the province - they didn't specify a date for the strikes but reported it on this day.
Their "informed military sources" said that the strike was conducted in the province's Dah Bala district.
It was unclear from the Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces had been responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike hit Logar province on this day and destroyed one structure, 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
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
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 strike summary
One 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 strike summary
One strike hit Faryab 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: Faryab province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Two strikes 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
Four strikes hit Badghis province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Badghis around this time. Khaama Press reported that Coalition and Afghan forces airstrikes killed 19 Taliban fighters and injured four others. They didn't specify a date for the strikes but reported on it the day after US forces have admitted hitting the area.
According to Khaama, the 207th Zafar Corps of the Afghan military released a statement that claimed the multiple airstrikes in Aab Kamari were in support of ground forces.
Those killed, according to the statement were:
- Mawlawee Besmellah, Shadow district governor of the Taliban in Aab Kamari
- Abdulhanan, a Taliban tactical commander for Aab Kamari
- Mawlawee Abdulrahimdad, Taliban chief for religious matters in the district
- Ghulam Hazrat, a Taliban local commander
- Mullah Najeeb, a Taliban group leader
- Mullah Hazeez
- Zikrullah
- Mohammad Naser
- Mahmood
- Ezatullah
- Abdulsamad
- Mawlawee Sidiq
- Khan Mohammad
- Abdul Aziz
- Muhsen
- Zainuddin
- Abdul Basir
- Khudadad
- Barakatullah
Those injured, according to the statement were:
- Habibullah
- Haleem
- Basir
- Abdul Rafi
According to Khaama Press' sources the strikes took place in Aab Kamari.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Badghis province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Four strikes hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Uruzgan on this day. Khaama Press reported that two "militants" were killed in an airstrike in the province - though their report was not clear whether it was carried out by US air support or Afghan forces.
Their "informed military sources" said that the strike had happened in the last 24 hours. US data shows that there were strikes in Uruzgan on both the 27 and 26 April - we therefore cannot be sure that this relates to this US strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
