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 4
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.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Kunar on this day.
US forces conducted airstrikes across Kunar province killed five Taliban fighters and wounded six others, Khaama Press reported.
The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said that the strikes were conducted in the Pech Dara, Suki and Noor Gul districts - killing five and wounding three.
The statement went on to add that a separate strike in the Manogi district also injured three Taliban.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan, we cannot be sure that Khaama Press is referring to the confirmed US strike on this day.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, 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
Two strikes hit Kabul 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: Kabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Five 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.
US forces conducted an airstrike in Ghazni that killed seven Taliban fighters and injured six others, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Deh Yak district.
Two motorcycles were also said to have been destroyed in the strike.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, but they reported on it the day after the confirmed US strike.
- 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 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
Airstrikes in Faryab province killed three Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Their "informed military sources" reportedly said that the strikes were conducted in the Qurghan district of the province.
While the report says that the security forces conducted the strike, we cannot definitely rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
Khaama Press did explicitly give a date for this strike so we have recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Faryab on this date in their monthly release of strike data.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Qurghan district, Faryab province
- Reference: Khaama Press, 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 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
Two strikes 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
One strike hit Paktika province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Paktika on this day.
US forces carried out an airstrike in Paktika province that killed five Taliban fighters and wounded three others, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the strike was conducted in the Malik Shahi area of Bermal district.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike so we recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Paktika 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 on this day.
An airstrike in Nangarhar 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 that the security forces carried out the strike in the Pachir Wa Agam district.
While the report says that the security forces conducted the strike, we cannot definitely 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 recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan, we cannot be sure that Khaama Press are referring to either of the confirmed US strikes on this day.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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
Five strikes hit Laghman 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: Laghman 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 Herat province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Herat on this day.
Two Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in Herat, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Their "informed military sources" reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Shindand district.
A small weapons cache was also said to have been destroyed in the strike.
While the report says that the security forces conducted the strike, we cannot definitely 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, but reported on it the day after the confirmed US strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Herat province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Three 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.
Airstrikes in Helmand province killed four Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Their "informed military sources" reportedly said that the strikes were in the Nahr e Saraj district.
While the report says that the security forces conducted the strike, we cannot definitely 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, but reported on it the day after the confirmed US strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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
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
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
US airstrikes in Ghazni province killed 11 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were conducted in the Mir Khan area of Qarabagh district and the Dalani of Aab district.
The strikes were said to have also destroyed a vehicle and two motorcycles.
Khaama Press did 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.
US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Ghazni on this day in their monthly release of strike data.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Mir Khan area, Qarabagh district & Dalani area of Aab district
- Reference: Khaama Press, 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 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 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
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 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
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
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
Fifteen strikes hit Ghor province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Ghor on this day.
Multiple airstrikes in Ghor province killed at least 66 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Their "informed military sources" reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strikes in the Shahrak district.
A large weapons cache was also said to have been destroyed.
While the report says that the security forces conducted the strike, we cannot definitely 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, but reported on it the day after these confirmed strikes.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghor 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
Three strikes hit Balkh 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: Balkh province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
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
One strike hit Takhar 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: Takhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Two strikes 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
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
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
One strike hit Logar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Logar on this day.
A civilian was killed in an airstrike in Logar province, with five others wounded, Tolo News reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The night-time raid took place in Babus village on the outskirts of Pul e Alam City, the provincial capital, according to local residents that Tolo News spoke to.
Footage on social media and from local reports show a destroyed house which residents claim has been targeted by the airstrike on Saturday evening.
Women and children were said to be among the victims.
“He was a farmer and he was a taxi driver as well… They were all innocent people,” Haji Nangul, a Logar resident told Tolo.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, Fawad Aman, also told them that an investigation into the incident had started, but that six Taliban fighters had been killed in this operation.
We will reach out to Resolute Support for clarification of their involvement in this incident and for their civilian harm assessment.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Tolo News
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
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
Four 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. Airstrikes in Ghazni province killed 16 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - attributing blame to both US and Afghan forces.
The Governor's office of Ghazni reportedly said in a statement that 12 Taliban fighters, including two Pakistani nationals, were killed in the first strike in Deh Mullah Village of Khogyani district.
The statement further added that the security forces carried out a further two strikes in Khwaja Omari and Qarabagh districts which killed 4 Taliban militants.
A separate US airstrike destroyed a radio station of the Taliban in Barakaat area of Khwaja Omari district, the 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said.
No civilians were harmed in the strikes, the statement said.
A separate Khaama Press report suggested that another strike killed Fateh Khan, the head of the "kangaroo courts of the Taliban", in the Brezmo area of Deh Yak district.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan, we cannot be sure that these Khaama Press reports are referring to any of the confirmed US strikes on this day.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, Khaama Press, Khaama Press, Khaama Press
Four 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
Two strikes hit Balkh province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Balkh on this day.
An airstrike in Balkh province killed 15 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Their "informed military sources" said that the strike was carried out in the Sholgarah district.
There was no reference made as to who carried out the strike.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike so we recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Balkh province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
An airstrike in northern Faryab province killed four Taliban fighters and wounded four 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 conducted the strike in the Ghormach district late at night.
While the report says that the security forces conducted the strike, we cannot definitely rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in Faryab on this date in their monthly release of strike data.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Ghormach district, Faryab province
- Reference: Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Four 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
Five strikes 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
Nine 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
Ten 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
Three strikes hit Laghman 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: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
