Lexi Webster
There have been several reports of US troops killing children in Afghanistan. In 2012, a US sergeant killed 16 civilians, 9 of whom were children. In 2015, a report by the United Nations stated that US and allied forces killed 24 children in Afghanistan in 2014. There have also been reports of US troops being complicit in the sexual violence and rape of Afghan boys. The US military has been aware of these abusive practices but has hidden them from the public to maintain its relationship with the Afghan police and military. The killing of children by US troops has sparked outrage and criticism from human rights lawyers and campaigners.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of children killed by US-led forces in Afghanistan in 2014 | 24 |
| Number of children killed by US-led forces in Syria and other war zones since 9/11 | >1000 |
| Number of children killed by US-coalition forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2011 | 1201 |
| Number of children killed or maimed in Afghanistan since 2005 | 26,000 |
| Number of accusations of child sexual abuse reported by American military personnel between 2010 and 2016 | 6000 |
| Number of children killed by a US sergeant in Afghanistan in 2012 | 9 |
What You'll Learn
US troops have killed thousands of Afghan children since 2005
The war in Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths of thousands of children since 2005. According to reports, approximately 26,000 Afghan children have been killed or maimed during this period. The United States military's actions have directly contributed to this devastating toll.
The presence of US troops in Afghanistan has had a profound impact on the country's children. The US military has faced scrutiny for its controversial targeting policies, which have resulted in the deaths of numerous Afghan children. The US military justified its actions by claiming that children were being used by the Taliban, posing as a potential threat to coalition forces. However, human rights lawyers and campaigners have raised serious concerns about the legality and morality of these policies.
The harm caused by the war extends beyond direct casualties. The war-induced breakdown of the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure has had far-reaching consequences for Afghan children. The conflict has led to massive impoverishment, with 92% of the population facing food insecurity and 3 million children at risk of acute malnutrition. The contamination of Afghan land with unexploded ordnance and landmines from previous wars also continues to pose a significant threat to children as they go about their daily lives.
The actions of the US military have had long-lasting consequences for the mental and social well-being of Afghan children. In 2009, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health reported that two-thirds of Afghans suffer from mental health issues. The war has also contributed to the destruction of infrastructure, impairing access to essential services such as medical care and education. As a result, children in Afghanistan face increased vulnerabilities and limited opportunities for the future.
The US involvement in Afghanistan has also been marred by allegations of sexual violence against children. A report revealed that between 2010 and 2016, there were nearly 6,000 accusations of child sexual abuse by American military personnel, with no actions taken in response. The US military was aware of these abuses but worked to keep them hidden to maintain its relationship with the Afghan police and military. This complicity has left deep psychological, emotional, and social trauma on the victims.
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US troops have targeted children in Afghanistan
The US military has also faced scrutiny for its targeting policy in Afghanistan, which includes the identification of "children with potential hostile intent." This policy has been criticised by human rights lawyers and campaigners as being "deeply troubling" and unlawful, as it potentially justifies the killing of children. According to a United Nations report, US and allied forces killed 24 children in Afghanistan in 2014.
In addition to direct killings, US-led operations in Afghanistan have also resulted in the deaths of children due to indirect factors such as the destruction of infrastructure, which impairs access to medical care, safe drinking water, and food. The US military's use of terms like "military-aged male" to justify targeted killings has been criticised for reducing the official tally of civilian deaths, including those of children.
Furthermore, there have been reports of the US military's complicity in widespread sexual violence against Afghan boys, with nearly 6,000 accusations of child sexual abuse reported by American military personnel between 2010 and 2016, with no actions taken in response. The US military has been accused of working to hide these abuses from the public to maintain its relationship with the Afghan police and military.
The actions of US troops in Afghanistan, including the targeting and killing of children, have had severe consequences and have contributed to the overall destruction and casualties in the country.
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US troops have been complicit in the rape of Afghan boys
In Afghanistan, a practice known as "bacha bazi", or "boy play", sees high-ranking Afghan elites use boys between the ages of 10 and 18 as dancers, dressed in makeup and girls' clothing. These boys are then held hostage, raped, and forced to perform other sexual acts over extended periods. The trauma suffered by these boys as a result of their enslavement is deep and long-lasting, affecting them psychologically, emotionally, and socially.
The US military's complicity in this abuse stems from a policy of non-intervention, designed to maintain good relations with Afghan police and militia units in the fight against the Taliban. American forces have recruited and organised Afghan militias, and in doing so, have armed suspected pedophiles and placed them as village commanders. US soldiers have been instructed to ignore the sexual abuse of boys by their Afghan allies, even when it occurs on military bases. This policy has troubled US soldiers and alienated the parents of the boys who have been victimised.
Despite the numerous reports of abuse, the US military has failed to take action. The SIGAR report primarily blames the lack of clearly defined procedures for reporting incidents and the apathy of the Afghan government. However, the US military's own history of sexual violence against its forces and civilians cannot be ignored. Rape has been used as an act of war against women, children, and prisoners of war throughout every major conflict in the past century, including US interventions in the Middle East.
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US troops have killed children in other countries
In one particularly tragic incident in 2012, a US sergeant killed 16 Afghan civilians in a rural area of Kandahar Province, with 9 of the victims being children. This incident sparked outrage and heightened tensions, leading to fears of retaliatory attacks on US and Western targets. The US military has also faced scrutiny for its controversial targeting policy, which has included identifying children as potential threats due to their alleged involvement with insurgent groups.
The impact of US military operations extends beyond direct fatalities. Neta Crawford, a political scientist at Boston University, highlights the indirect harm caused by the destruction of infrastructure, which impairs access to medical care, safe drinking water, and food. She also emphasizes the difficulty in estimating civilian casualties, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, due to a lack of record-keeping.
US-led actions have also been linked to sexual violence and the exploitation of children in Afghanistan. A 2017 report revealed that between 2010 and 2016, there were nearly 6,000 accusations of child sexual abuse reported by American military personnel, with no actions taken in response. The US military was aware of these abuses but worked to keep them hidden to maintain its relationship with Afghan forces.
The killing and harm inflicted on children by US troops in Afghanistan and other countries is a grave concern, sparking outrage and calls for accountability from human rights organizations and the international community.
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US troops have killed children unintentionally
The issue of children being killed by US troops in Afghanistan is a highly sensitive and controversial topic. While the US military maintains that it does not intentionally target children, there have been numerous incidents where children have been killed or maimed as a result of US military operations in Afghanistan. These incidents have sparked outrage and raised questions about the US military's targeting policies and accountability for civilian casualties.
In one incident in 2012, a US Army sergeant killed at least 16 civilians, including 9 children, in a rural area of southern Afghanistan. This incident sparked fears of a new wave of anti-American hostility and led to condemnation from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who called it an "inhuman and intentional act". The US government, including President Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, expressed condolences and promised thorough investigations, acknowledging the tragic nature of the incident.
Another incident involved a US airstrike in Kunar province in 2013, which resulted in the deaths of several children, as reported by Reuters. The US military's rules of engagement for airstrikes have been criticised for resulting in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties. The relaxation of these rules in 2017 led to a 330% increase in civilian deaths from airstrikes in Afghanistan during the Trump administration.
In addition to direct casualties, the war in Afghanistan has had indirect effects on children. The war-induced breakdown of the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure has left 92% of the population facing food insecurity, with 3 million children at risk of acute malnutrition. The contamination of Afghan land with unexploded ordnance and landmines from previous wars also continues to kill and injure children as they go about their daily activities.
Furthermore, there have been allegations of sexual violence against Afghan children, with nearly 6,000 accusations of child sexual abuse reported by American military personnel between 2010 and 2016. The US military has been accused of complicity and attempts to hide these abuses from the public to maintain its cooperative relationship with Afghan forces.
While the US military maintains that it does not intentionally target children, the repeated incidents of child casualties and the impact of the war on their lives have led to widespread criticism and calls for greater accountability. The harm caused to children in war zones, whether direct or indirect, underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to protecting and supporting them in these vulnerable situations.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been several instances of US troops killing children in Afghanistan. In 2012, a US sergeant killed 9 children in a rural stretch of southern Afghanistan. In 2014, 24 children were killed in Afghanistan by US and allied forces. In October of 2012, three children from Helmand's Nawa district were killed in a US rocket strike.
In some cases, children have been used by the Taliban to assist in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, and are thus identified as a potential threat. In other cases, children have been unintentionally killed in attacks on adult targets.
The killings of children by US troops in Afghanistan have sparked outrage and condemnation from various quarters, including human rights lawyers, campaigners, and the Afghan government. President Hamid Karzai condemned the attacks and demanded justice. President Obama called the incidents "tragic and shocking" and promised thorough investigations. The US military has also faced fresh questions over its targeting policy in Afghanistan.
The killing of children by US troops has had both direct and indirect consequences. Directly, it has resulted in the deaths of children and caused psychological, emotional, and social trauma for the survivors and their families. Indirectly, it has contributed to the destruction of infrastructure, impaired the delivery of medical care, made drinking water unsafe, and led to food scarcity. It has also damaged the reputation of the US and provided militant groups with provocations and justifications for their actions.
