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 8
Ten 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. A US airstrike in Logar province killed at least 30 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan Military reportedly said that the strikes were conducted in the Dasht e Aab Josh of Charkh district and the Dara-e-Mangal of Azra district.
The strikes were said to have also destroyed a Dshk heavy machine gun and a pick up truck.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan, we cannot be sure that this strike refers to one of the ten confirmed US strikes on this day.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two 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
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
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 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
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.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Ghazni on this day. US forces conducted airstrikes in Ghazni province that killed 25 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported.
The 203rd Thunder Corps reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were in the Moqor and Gilan districts of Ghazni.
The strikes were also said to have destroyed a Humvee and five motorcycles.
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 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
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
Five 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
Four strikes 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
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
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
Four 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 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 Herat 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: Herat 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
Six 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
Various operations around Balkh and Jawzjan provinces killed seven Taliban fighters and wounded six others, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The strike and ground operations were conducted in the Chahar Bolak, Dawlatabad, Balkh and Nahr-e Shahi districts, according to the 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan military.
It is not clear how many fighters were killed in each province, or whether they were killed in air or artillery attacks.
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 recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
US Forces - Afghanistan did not report any strikes in either Balkh or Jawzjan provinces on this day.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Chahar Bolak, Dawlatabad, Balkh and Nahr-e Shahi districts, Balkh & Jazwjan provinces
- Reference: Khaama Press, 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
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.
An airstrike in Uruzgan killed two Taliban fighters and killed another, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The military officials that they spoke to reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Tarin Kot district.
The strike was said to have happened in the last 24 hours, so it is unclear whether it was conducted on August 5 or 6. US Forces - Afghanistan reported strikes in the province on both of these days.
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 recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan we cannot be sure if Khaama Press is referring to one of the confirmed US strikes on this day.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan 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 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
Seven 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 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
Seven strikes hit Ghor province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Ghor around this time. An airstrike in Ghor province killed 11 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strike was conducted in the Chaghcharan 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 explicitly give a date for this strike, but reported on it the day after the confirmed US strike.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan, we cannot be sure that Khaama Press are referring to the confirmed US strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghor province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two 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. Air and artillery strikes in Ghazni province killed eight Taliban fighters and wounded eight others, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The 203rd Thunder Corps reportedly said in a statement that security forces conducted the strikes in the Shahbaz area, on the outskirts of Ghazni city.
Five motorcycles were also reportedly destroyed in the strike.
Khaama Press did 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: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Two 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
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
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
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
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
One strike hit Nangarhar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Nangarhar on this day. A Coalition drone strike in Nangarhar killed seven Taliban fighters, Xinhua reported.
The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the drones fired four missiles based on intelligence reports in the Shipana, Gandomak and Surdag areas of Sherzad district.
Xinhua is likely referring to the NATO coalition in which the US are the only country known to be flying strike missions, aside from Afghanistan.
The statement further added that the strikes also destroyed two Taliban vehicles, five motorcycles and some weapons and ammunition.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan, we cannot be sure that Xinhua are referring to the confirmed US strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Uruzgan province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Xinhua
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 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
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
One strike 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
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
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 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
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
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
AFG2526 link
4 August 2019
- 0-19 reported killed, including 0-2 civilians
- 0-10 reported injured, including 0-1 civilians
Two civilians were killed and another wounded in a drone strike in Faryab province, The New York Times reported.
The three were brothers who were all climbing a hill to try and find phone signal in the Shorcha Village of Pashton Kot District.
While NYT did not explicitly name the US as conducting the strike, they are the only country known to be flying armed drones in the country.
We will contact Resolute Support to clarify their involvement in this strike and get their civilian casualty assessment.
In a separate piece from Khaama Press, it was reported that airstrikes in Faryab province killed 17 Taliban fighters and wounded nine others - though it is not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were conducted in the Bulcheragh district of Faryab. The strikes also destroyed a strategic compound of the Taliban and some weapons, munitions and vehicles.
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 recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
US Forces - Afghanistan reported one strike in Faryab on this day in their monthly release of strike data.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Faryab province
- Reference: New York Times Afghan War Casualty Report, Khaama Press, US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike 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
Airstrikes across Ghazni killed 26 Taliban fighters and injured four more, Khaama Press reported.
One report details strikes in the Khado Khel area of Aab Band and the Abu Qala area of Qarabagh district - in which nine Taliban fighters were killed and four others wounded. The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that both strikes were targeting vehicles carrying Taliban fighters. It was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible for these strikes.
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.
The other report details US strikes in the Sarkai area of Andar district and the Kandar and Pai Loch areas of Deh Yak district. The 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan military reportedly said in a statement that the strikes killed 17 Taliban fighters, destroyed four motorcycles, two vehicles, a Dshk heavy machine gun, a rocket launcher and two PKM machine guns.
Khaama Press did explicitly give dates for these strikes so we recorded it as the date that it was reported on.
US Forces - Afghanistan reported four strikes in Ghazni on this day. However without further locational information from US Forces, we cannot be sure that the Khaama Press reports are referring to any of the confirmed US strikes.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press, Khaama Press
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
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 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 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 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
