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 | 7167 |
| Total reported killed | 84-4479 |
| Civilian reported killed | 46-363 |
| Children reported killed | 13-53 |
| Total reported injured | 47-846 |
| Total Close Air Support (CAS) sorties with at least one weapon release | 2434 |
| Total CAS sorties | 8773 |
| Total weapons released | 7423 |
Strikes Page 15
Two strikes hit Wardak province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Wardak province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Six 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 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
Three 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. Six fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were killed in a drone strike in Nangarhar province, Xinhua reported.
While the report did not make an effort to identify the warplane, it did state that it was an unmanned plane - the US are the only known country to be flying armed drones in Afghanistan.
An army statement reportedly said the strike hit an IS hideout in Suliman Khil area, Pachir Agam district.
MENAFN reported that Provincial Governor Spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, confirmed the drone strike and death toll - however, he again did not attribute responsibility.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan, we cannot be sure that this refers to one of the confirmed US strikes in Nangarhar on this day.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Xinhua, MENAFN
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 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 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.
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
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 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.
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 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.
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
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.
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 civilians were allegedly killed in an NDS raid supported by unidentified aircraft, local residents claimed to Tolo News.
Residents in Laghman held a demonstration to protest the killing of the civilians, which they said was carried out by the 02 unit of the NDS in the Alingar district.
“They came at night and the aircraft started attacking. One of my brothers was martyred,” said Hamid Niazi, a protestor.
“All those killed in the operation are the poor,” said another protestor, Siraj Niazi.
The NDS reportedly denied carrying out a raid on Wednesday.
The NDS often has US air support, however, there is every possibility that it could have been Afghan air support.
Two strikes hit Laghman province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Laghman province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Tolo News
Five 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
Four 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 Balkh province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Balkh on this day. Airstrikes and an armed clash in northern Balkh province killed at least 12 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The 209th Shaheen Corps reportedly said in a statement that airstrikes targeted a Taliban gathering at around 7:00 pm local time in Kohna, Chamtal district.
It is not clear how many died in the strikes and how many died in the armed clash.
No reference was made as to who conducted the strikes.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, but they 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 is referring to the confirmed US strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Balkh province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
One strike hit Zabul province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Zabul on this day. An airstrike in Zabul killed 11 Taliban fighters, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
No reference was made as to who carried out the strike.
Military officials reportedly said that the security forces carried out the strike in the Now Bahar district of the province at some point over the past 24 hours, we therefore cannot be sure if it was on October 8 or 7.
US Forces - Afghanistan recorded strikes in Zabul on both of these days.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Zabul province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Six strikes hit Wardak province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Wardak on this day. Airstrikes in Wardak province destroyed four weapon caches, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
Military officials reportedly said that the strikes were carried out in the Jaghatoo district, but made no reference as to who was responsible.
The strikes were carried out at some point over the last 24 hours, they said - it is therefore not clear whether it was October 8 or 7.
US Forces - Afghanistan only recorded strikes in Wardak on October 8.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Wardak province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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
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. At least six fighters from Afghanistan's branch of the Islamic State were reportedly killed in a drone strike in Nangarhar province, Sputnik reported.
The local governor's office reportedly said in a statement that the attack happened overnight from the 7th-8th in the Khogyani district.
A weapons depot was also said to have been destroyed.
It is not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible. The US are the only known country to be flying armed drones in Afghanistan - however, drone strikes can often be a catch-all phrase for airstrikes.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Sputnik
One strike hit Logar province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
No further details were given. To see more about the release of this data, click here.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Logar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
One strike hit 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
Seven 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.
There had been previous reports of strikes in Helmand on this day. An airstrike in the province killed two 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 carried out in the Marjah district, but made no reference as to who carried out the strike.
The strikes were carried out at some point over the last 24 hours, they said - it is therefore not clear whether it was October 8 or 7.
US Forces - Afghanistan recorded strikes in Helmand on both of these days. Without further locational information from them, we cannot be sure that Khaama Press is referring to the one of their strikes.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Helmand province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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. Four Taliban fighters were killed in an airstrike in Ghazni province, 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 Aab Band district.
It was also said to have destroyed a weapons cache and a car bomb.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot rule out US involvement as the security forces often call in US air support.
The strikes were carried out at some point over the last 24 hours, they said - it is therefore not clear whether it was October 8 or 7.
US Forces - Afghanistan recorded strikes in Ghazni on both of these days. Without further locational information we cannot be clear if they are referring to this incident.
- 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
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
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 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.
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. Afghan and US forces carried out an airstrike in Nangarhar province that killed one of the Taliban Red Unit's senior commanders for Ghazni, Khaama Press reported.
A statement released by the NDS (Afghanistan's intelligence agency) reportedly said that Mawlavi Edris, alias, Abu Yousuf, was the commander killed.
He was said to have a "major role in planning and coordinating suicide attacks and explosions as well as deploying suicide bombers to Kabul."
It is not clear whether US or Afghan planes were responsible for the strike, which intercepted Edris when in Khogyani, Nangarhar.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, but reported on it on the day of the confirmed US strike.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Nangarhar province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
Six 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
Five 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 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
Four 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
One strike hit Farah province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of a strike in Farah on this day. An airstrike in western Farah killed the Taliban's military commission chief as well as three of his senior leaders, Khaama Press reported - though it was not clear whether US or Afghan forces were responsible.
The provincial police headquarters reportedly said in a statement that the security forces carried out the strike targeting a vehicle in Nal Dasht Village of Khak e Safid district.
The military commission chief for 20 provinces was named as Mawlavi Kamran. The three other leaders were named as Mawlavi Samad, Mawlavi Dawood and Mawlavi Akhundzaa.
While responsibility was placed with the security forces, we cannot 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 same day as the confirmed US strike.
Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan we cannot be sure that they are referring to the same incident as Khaama Press.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Farah province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press, United News of India
Two strikes hit Daykundi 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: Daykundi 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
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
Four 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
A child was killed in a US airstrike in Ghazni province, the US has confirmed.
US air support was called in when a partnered ground operation came under fire in the Andar district.
At 6:50pm local time US forces came under RPG and small arms fire.
“Once the threat was eliminated by a precision strike, ground forces were able to enter the compound,” the USFOR-A press desk said, adding that “They determined three Taliban fighters and one minor were killed.”
"Minors are not automatically classified as civilians, however in this case the minor was determined to be a non-combatant bystander who was put in harm’s way by Taliban fighters," the statement read.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first admission of civilian harm since March.
Three strikes hit Ghazni province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Andar district, Ghazni province
- References: Khaama Press, Resolute Support via email, 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
One strike hit Daykundi 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: Daykundi province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary
Three strikes hit Badghis province on this day, according to data from US Forces - Afghanistan.
There had been previous reports of US strikes in Badghis on this day. US airstrikes in the province killed 42 Taliban fighters and wounded another 35, Khaama Press reported.
The provincial government reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were carried out to support the Afghan forces who were responding to a coordinated Taliban attack on security posts.
They hit the Baghak Zone located in the outskirts of Qala-e Naw, the provincial capital of Badghis.
Khaama Press did not explicitly give a date for this strike, but reported on it on the same day as the confirmed US strike. Without further locational information from US Forces - Afghanistan we cannot be sure that they are referring to the same incident as Khaama Press.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Badghis province
- References: US Forces - Afghanistan strike summary, Khaama Press
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