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 30
Twenty strikes hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been reports of strikes in Nangarhar on this day. Khaama Press reported that three members of Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were killed in an airstrike in the province.
The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military said in a statement that coalition forces carried out the airstrikes in the Haska Mina district of Nangarhar. Weapons and munitions belonging to Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were also destroyed in the strikes.
Khaama Press is likely referring to the Nato coalition, in which the US is the only country known to be flying strike missions.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Kunduz on this day. Two Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike on the outskirts of Kunduz City, Khaama Press reported.
The strike reportedly occurred at 11:10am local time in the Buz Kandahari area and killed Taliban Commander Qari Faizullah - a member of the Qari Bilal Group - and one other "brother of Qari Bilal".
It was unclear in Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike hit Kandahar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Five civilians were killed when airstrikes were called in during an Afghan special forces raid that was backed by foreign troops in Kabul province, NATO Resolute Support have confirmed.
Speaking to Tolo News, the NATO Resolute Support spokesperson, Debra Richardson, said that airstrikes were used after Taliban fighters armed with machine guns were positively identified.
"Unfortunately, 4 women and 1 child were killed.
We own every munition - every strike - and while we strive to minimise non-combatant casualties through every stage of an operation from operational planning, to targeting to execution. The nature of war is horrific. The most effective way to end the suffering of non-combatants is to end the fighting"
Richardson reportedly further added that it was likely that Taliban district shadow governor was killed alongside six other Taliban fighters.
According to the National Directorate of Security, Mullah Rasheed, a key commander in the Taliban was killed in the operation.
We have reached out to Resolute Support and they confirmed that the quotes provided by Debra Richardson that Tolo News reported are correct.
Five strikes hit Kabul province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Surobi district, Kabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Tolo News, Resolute Support via email
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 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
Five strikes hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Helmand on this day. Khaama Press reported that an airstrike in Helmand's Kajaki district killed two Taliban leaders, according to their "informed military sources".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike 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 airstrikes in Ghazni targeted two barricaded shooters in two structures as part of a wider Afghan Special Forces raid.
Their "informed military sources" said that nine Taliban fighters were killed in the clash, but it is not clear how many were killed in the strikes specifically, or in the wider raid.
It was not clear from Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two 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. An airstrike in Nangarhar targeted two defensive fighting positions in the Achin district's Taktai valley, Khaama Press reported.
They also did not provide a specific date for this strike so we cannot be certain that it corresponds to the strike in the USAF data. However this was reported on the day after the strike in the data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
AFG1511 link
23 March 2019
- 13-22 reported killed, including 4-8 friendly fire deaths
- 13-14 civilians reported killed, including 10 children
- 3 civilians reported injured
A US airstrike in Kunduz reportedly killed at least 13 civilians and injured 3 others in what is being described as a "fatal insider attack".
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) found in their preliminary investigation that ten of those killed were children from the same extended family, who were displaced due to fighting in another part of the country. UNAMA is conducting further investigations to verify that all 13 civilian fatalities occurred around the time of the airstrike.
According to the New York Times, the attack began when US armoured vehicle broke down broke down en route to a security checkpoint at around 3am local time. When the soldiers got out of the vehicle to fix it, a soldier described by Afghan officials as a Taliban insider, opened fire on them. The US soldiers fired back, at which point Afghan soldiers in a nearby outpost also opened fire on the US troops, unaware of what had happened, a commander of the Afghan police told NYT.
The commander, Mohammed Ibrahim, said that the allies exchanged fire for 20 minutes before the US troops called in airstrikes.
One of the airstrikes struck a house where a large family of refugees had taken shelter a month earlier, 14 of them were killed, said Nangayalay, a local police commander.
NYT also reported that there was another strike on the Afghan outpost in which between four and eight Afghan soldiers were killed.
A spokesperson for NATO Resolute Support, Sgt 1st Class Debra Richardson confirmed that this was a US airstrike, but said that they had not yet assessed whether it caused civilian casualties.
“We are fighting in a complex environment and this firefight is a prime example of the challenges Afghan and coalition forces face every day,” said Richardson. “The Taliban were hiding in civilian homes and maneuvered in and out of compounds without any concern for the families living inside.”
One strike hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
On July 22, a spokesperson for Resolute Support told the Bureau in a phone call that this incident is still under investigation.
- Type of strike: US drone or airstrike
- Location: Telawka neighbourhood, Gul Tepa district, Kunduz province
- Reference: Reuters, Khaama Press, New York Times, AhlulBayt News, UNAMA, New York Times Afghan War Casualty Report, 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
Two 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
Seven strikes hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
Journalist, Andrew Quilty, later spoke to a woman whose family were killed in a strike in Kunduz on the night of the 22nd in an interview for Foreign Policy - though he could not be certain that it was an American strike.
Rachida, 25, recalls being woken in the night when a firefight erupted near her home, 200 yards away from a small Afghan commando base. An airstrike soon hit and 13 of her family members, including five of her children, were killed. Her husband, Abdul Wahid, a 35 year old Afghan police officer, was also killed. One of their children survived.
"It struck the room where Rachida and 14 others from her extended family were huddled, killing all but two, including nine children."
Quilty reported that five Afghan commandos were killed in the strike. The US declined to provide comment on the incident for his FP article, citing an ongoing investigation.
a spokesperson for Resolute Support told the New York Times the day after the incident, “The combined Afghan and coalition ground force was fired on by an unknown assailant at close range from the checkpoint as well as from two other directions.” Afghan officials in Kunduz were quick to paint the shooter as a Taliban insider, suggesting that an attack on the base and homes was necessary. But accounts from survivors on the ground bear little resemblance to the official recounting of events that night. According to one of the wounded Afghan commandos, Aminullah, whom I spoke to by phone from his bed in the Afghan National Army hospital in Kabul, “There were no insiders in our base.” He said that his unit had two men manning guard towers and another patrolling at all times. Rachida and several men from Aqulabul also dismissed as nonsense the claim made by Resolute Support that the Taliban were hiding in civilian homes “and maneuvered in and out of compounds without any concern for the families living inside.”
During Quilty's visit to the site of the attack, he says that a neighbour emptied a sack of steel fragments that he had salvaged from the rubble. A munitions expert who then looked at Quilty's photos reportedly said that "the markings indicated a precision-guided 250-pound bomb dropped by a fixed-wing NATO (most likely American) aircraft."
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Foreign Policy
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
An airstrike in northern Faryab killed 29 "militants" - including two prominent Taliban leaders - and wounded 15 others, Khaama Press reported.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan military announced that Mullah Arif and Mawlavi Ghiasuddin and their fighters had been involved in terrorist activity in the Qaisar and Almar districts.
Their statement further added that the fighters were killed at around 8am local time.
It is unclear whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack, so we are unable to record it in our database of confirmed US strikes.
In their monthly release of airstrike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Faryab province on or around March 22.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Qaisar district, northern Faryab province
- Reference: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Balkh province killed six "militants" and wounded three others, Khaama Press reported.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Defence, it stated that the airstrike was conducted in Balkh's Chimtal district.
They stated that the airstrikes had happened during the last 24 hours, but it is unclear whether they were on 21 or 22, so we have recorded it as the date that Khaama Press reported on it.
It is unclear whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack, so we are unable to record it in our database of confirmed US strikes.
In their monthly release of airstrike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Balkh province on or around March 22.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Chimtal district, Balkh province
- Reference: Khaama Press
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
Two strikes hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike hit Kapisa province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kapisa province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike hit Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Helmand on this day. Khaama Press reported that an airstrike in Sangin killed nine Taliban fighters.
It was not clear in Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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 Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been reports of strikes in Nangarhar on this day. Khaama Press reported that an airstrike killed three fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State.
The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military said in a statement that the fighters were targeted in the Pekha Valley of the Achin district.
It was unclear in Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two strikes hit Logar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Logar on this day. Khaama Press reported that an airstrike in central Logar province killed three Taliban fighters.
Their "informed military sources" stated that one of the fighters was key group member, Abu Zar, who was reportedly known to be involved in planning high-profile attacks.
It was not clear from Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the strike.
They also did not provide a specific date for this strike so we cannot be certain that it corresponds to the strike in the USAF data. However this was reported on the day after the strike in the data.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike hit Kapisa province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kapisa province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan 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 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
Two 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 two airstrikes in Andar district killed 11 Taliban fighters and destroyed one staging unit, according to their "informed military sources".
It was unclear in Khaama Press' report whether US air support of Afghan forces were responsible for the strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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
Two 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
An airstrike in Achin district, eastern Nangarhar province, killed two fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State, Khaama Press reported.
A statement from the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military said that the two fighters were killed in "coalition drone strikes".
Khaama Press is likely referring to the Nato coalition, in which the US is the only country known to be flying strike missions.
We are unable to record this in our database of confirmed US strikes due to vague sourcing.
In their monthly release of airstrike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Nangarhar province on March 18.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Achin district, eastern Nangarhar province
- Reference: Khaama Press
An airstrike in Khoshi district, Khost, killed two Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
Khaama Press' information came from "informed military sources" who stated that the airstrike had happened during the last 24 hours. It is unclear when this strike occurred, so we have recorded it as the date that Khaama Press reported on it.
It is unclear whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack, so we are unable to record it in our database of confirmed US strikes.
In their monthly release of airstrike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Khost province on March 18.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Khoshi district, Khost province
- Reference: Khaama Press
Three 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. Airstrikes in Helmand province and Uruzgan province killed 16 Taliban fighters and destroyed an operations centre, Khaama Press reported.
Their "informed military sources" said that the 16 fighters were killed in the strikes in Helmand's Kajai district and Uruzgan's Tarin Kot City - though they did not appear to specify how many died in each strike.
We have recorded a 0-16 casualty range in both the Helmand and Uruzgan entries to highlight the confusion over how many were killed in each strike. In the database we have only recorded it in one entry so not to skew the numbers. The Helmand strike is below as AFG1475.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike 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.
Airstrikes in Nangahar killed seven Taliban fighters and five fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State, Khaama Press reported.
The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military said that Kateeb Ur Rehman, a commander of Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State, was killed in a strike along with four others.
Khaama Press did give a date for this strike, so we have recorded it as the date that Khamma Press reported on.
Two fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were also killed in an airstrike in Khogyani two days prior to this report. Although Khaama Press had already reported on that strike, it may be the same incident with an updated death toll. The other strike is recorded below as AFG1469.
In a separate report, Khaama Press reported details of the strike on the Taliban fighters on this day. Both were in Khogyani, but it is not clear whether the groups were targeted in separate strikes.
The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that Afghan Special Forces called in air support after coming under fire during an operation against the Taliban.
The seven Taliban fighters that were killed were thought to be involved in the planning and coordination of local suicide attacks and roadside bombings.
It was unclear in Khaama Press' reports whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the strikes.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
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 Helmand province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Uruzgan on this day. Airstrikes in Helmand province and Uruzgan province killed 16 Taliban fighters and destroyed an operations centre, Khaama Press reported.
Their sources further noted that a structure being used as a Taliban operations centre in Helmand's Sangin district was destroyed.
Their "informed military sources" said that the 16 fighters were killed in the strikes in Helmand's Kajai district and Uruzgan's Tarin Kot City - though they did not appear to specify how many died in each strike.
We have recorded a 0-16 casualty range in both the Helmand and Uruzgan entries to highlight the confusion over how many were killed in each strike. In the database we have only recorded it in one entry so not to skew the numbers. The Uruzgan strike is above as AFG1478.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two strikes hit Paktika province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktika province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike hit Kunduz province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Kunduz on this day. Khaama Press reported that two airstrikes killed eight Taliban fighters in the province.
Afghan Special Forces were reportedly conducting a multi-day ground operation in the Chahar district when the coordinated airstrikes took place.
It was unclear in Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunduz province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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 Wardak province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Wardak on that day. Khaama Press reported that airstrikes in Sayyidabad and Sheikhabad districts of Wardak province killed up to three Taliban fighters.
The strike was reportedly conducted in coordination with a special forces operation, so it is therefore unknown whether the fighters were killed in the ground operation or the airstrike.
Khaama Press' information came from "informed military sources" who stated that the airstrike had happened during the last 24 hours.
It was unclear in Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Wardak province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Four 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
One strike 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 two fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were killed in an airstrike in Khogyani.
The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military said in a statement that the airstrike was carried out in the late afternoon on Friday 15 in Khogyani district.
It was unclear in Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were 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 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 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 precision airstrikes had killed nine Taliban fighters and destroyed one operations centre in Tarin Kot city.
Their "informed military sources" said that after hours of monitoring Taliban activity going in and out of a building that was known to be used for staging attacks against Afghan civilians, the building was taken out by multiple precision airstrikes.
It was unclear from Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Tarin Kot City, Uruzgan province
- Reference: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Airstrikes in Paktiya province killed 12 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
Their "informed military sources" said that the strikes occurred in the Zurmat and Gomal districts of the province.
It was unclear from Khaama Press' report how many fighters were killed in each strike.
They stated that the airstrike had happened during the last 24 hours. It is unclear when this strike occurred, so we have recorded it as the date that Khaama Press reported on it.
It is unclear whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack, so we are unable to record it in our database of confirmed US strikes.
In their monthly release of airstrike data, US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Paktiya province on March 15.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Zurmat and Gomal districts, Paktiya province
- Reference: Khaama Press
One strike hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
The strikes destroyed one tactical unit and one building.
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 Paktika province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
The strikes destroyed one tactical unit and one vehicle.
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 Kandahar province on this day that destroyed one tactical unit and one defensive fighting position, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Kandahar on this day. Khaama Press reported that 11 Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in the Beghal, Maywand and Khakrez districts.
It was unclear from Khaama Press' report both how many had died in each strike and whether US air support of Afghan forces were responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kandahar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two strikes hit Helmand province on this day and destroyed one tactical unit, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Helmand on this day. Khaama Press reported that airstrikes in Nahr e Saraj killed nine Taliban fighters and strikes in the Sanjin district killed six Taliban fighters, according to their "informed military sources".
It was unclear from Khaama Press' report whether US air support or Afghan forces were responsible for the attack.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Five Afghan soldiers were killed and 10 more wounded in a friendly fire incident on an Afghan army checkpoint in Uruzgan's Tarin Kot.
Qais Mangal, a spokesperson for the Afghan Defence Ministry, confirmed that the airstrikes occurred after a convoy of Afghan Special Forces and American troops were attacked by another Afghan unit.
The Telegraph reported that a statement from the international military coalition said the forces “attempted to de-escalate the situation but they continued to be fired upon. We are operating in a complex environment where enemy fighters do not wear uniforms and use stolen military vehicles to attack government forces.”
“This is an example of the fog of war,” said Sgt First Class Debra Richardson. “The US conducted a precision self-defense airstrike on people who were firing at a partnered US-Afghan force.”
Karim Karimi, deputy head of the Uruzgan provincial council confirmed that 10 additional soldiers were wounded in the incident.
Mr Karimi told NYT that the fight lasted four hours, until 3am local time, before US airstrikes destroyed the base.
One strike hit Uruzgan province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan. According to the data the strike destroyed one tactical unit and one building.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Tarin Kot district, Uruzgan province
- References: The Telegraph, New York Times, Washington Post, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike hit Khost province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
The strike destroyed a tactical unit.
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
