A Decade Of Destruction: The Devastating Toll Of Airstrikes In Afghanistan

The United States has dropped thousands of bombs on Afghanistan since the invasion of the country following the September 11, 2001 attacks. In 2019, the US dropped 7,423 bombs and missiles on Afghanistan, the highest number in a single year since the Pentagon began keeping records in 2006. This represents a dramatic increase in bombings compared to 2009, when 4,147 bombs were dropped under President Barack Obama. The surge in US bombings since 2016 has been attributed to the removal of restrictions on air raids aimed at preventing civilian casualties. The increase in air strikes has resulted in a significant rise in civilian casualties, with the United Nations reporting that pro-government forces, including the US, killed 717 civilians in the first half of 2019, a 31% increase from the previous year.

The US dropped 7,423 bombs in Afghanistan in 2019

The CFACC coordinates aerial activity and strikes by US aerial components and other coalition air forces under its command. The report noted that not all aircraft operating in the area fall under CFACC’s control. The US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) also released a report on Monday, stating that coalition aircraft flew nearly 8,800 sorties during the period, over a quarter of which carried out strikes.

The increase in bombings can primarily be attributed to a change in the rules of engagement, which now allow coalition forces to open fire without being in close contact with the enemy. This change was implemented by former US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who wanted to remove restrictions on air power to use it to its full potential and defeat the enemy.

The surge in bombings comes as the US and the Taliban continue to push for a possible agreement that would see US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in return for security guarantees. The Taliban has agreed to scale down attacks against US forces and the Afghan government before any agreement is finalised.

The increase in bombings has also resulted in a dramatic rise in civilian casualties. In the first half of 2019, 717 civilians were killed by government forces, including the US, representing a 31% increase from the year before. The United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns over the increase in air raids and the resulting civilian deaths.

This is a record number, up from 7,362 in 2018

The US Air Force dropped a record number of bombs in Afghanistan in 2019, with a total of 7,423 bombs and missiles dropped on targets in the country. This was an increase from the 7,362 munitions dropped in 2018, according to the US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT). The number of bombs dropped in 2019 marked a dramatic surge in bombings compared to previous years. For example, in 2010, the peak of President Barack Obama's "surge", 5,101 bombs were dropped, while in 2015, only 947 were released.

The increase in bombings under the Trump administration has been attributed to a change in rules of engagement, which removed restrictions on air raids aimed at preventing civilian casualties. This change allowed coalition forces to open fire on the enemy without having to be in close contact with them. The US has also attributed the increase in bombings to an effort to force concessions from the Taliban during peace talks.

The surge in US bombings has resulted in a significant rise in civilian casualties. According to the United Nations, pro-government forces, including the US, killed 717 civilians in the first half of 2019, an increase of 31% from the year before. The Taliban and other insurgent groups were responsible for 1,207 civilian deaths, as they also stepped up their attacks. The high number of civilian casualties has led to concerns from the United Nations and human rights groups, who have criticised the increase in air raids by US and Afghan forces.

Despite the record number of bombs dropped in 2019, the overall number of weapons released in Afghanistan has decreased in recent years. In 2020, the US dropped 3,246 bombs and missiles on Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria combined. This is a significant decrease from the more than 12,000 bombs and missiles dropped on these countries in 2019. Since the withdrawal of US occupation forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, the US military has officially conducted no airstrikes in the country.

The US has ramped up air bombings since Trump's election in 2016

The US has ramped up air bombings since Donald Trump's election in 2016. In 2019, the US dropped 7,423 bombs and missiles on targets in Afghanistan, marking a rise from the 7,362 munitions dropped in 2018. This is a dramatic increase compared to 2009 when 4,147 bombs were dropped under former President Barack Obama.

The increase in bombings is a result of the removal of restrictions that provided greater oversight over air raids aimed at preventing civilian casualties. The US removed a requirement that targets should be "proximate" to US or Afghan forces. This change in rules of engagement has been criticised by the United Nations and rights groups, who have expressed concerns over the increase in civilian casualties.

In the first half of 2019, pro-government forces, including the US, killed 717 civilians, an increase of 31% from the year before. The spike in hostilities comes as the US and the Taliban continue to push for a possible agreement that would see US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in return for security guarantees.

The increase in bombings has led to a rise in civilian casualties

The increase in bombings in Afghanistan has led to a rise in civilian casualties. Between 2016 and 2020, there were 3,977 civilian casualties from airstrikes, with 2,122 civilians killed and 1,855 injured. Of these, 1,598 were children, with 785 killed and 813 injured. The majority of civilian deaths from airstrikes were caused by international forces.

The US dropped a record number of bombs on Afghanistan in 2019, with 7,423 bombs and other munitions dropped. This was a dramatic increase from 2009, when 4,147 bombs were dropped under President Barack Obama. The number of bombs dropped in 2019 was also higher than in 2018, when 7,362 munitions were dropped.

The increase in bombings is due in part to the loosening of rules of engagement for airstrikes. In 2017, the US relaxed its rules of engagement, allowing for more airstrikes. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties, with the number of civilians killed by US-led airstrikes in Afghanistan increasing by 330% from the last year of the Obama administration to the last full year of recorded data under the Trump administration.

The high number of civilian casualties has been a major concern for the United Nations and human rights groups. They have repeatedly expressed worries about the increase in air raids by US and Afghan forces, which have resulted in a significant rise in civilian deaths.

The impact of bombings on civilians is long-lasting. Even after the fighting has ended, unexploded ordnance and landmines continue to kill and injure civilians. This includes children, who are harmed as they go about their daily activities such as gathering wood. The war has also had indirect effects on civilians, including malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental degradation.

The Taliban and other insurgent groups were responsible for 1,207 civilian deaths in 2019

The Taliban and other insurgent groups were responsible for 1,207 civilian deaths in Afghanistan in 2019. This figure was released at a time when the US had dropped a record number of bombs on Afghanistan—7,423 to be precise—the most since the Pentagon began keeping track in 2006.

The Taliban's attacks in 2019 came at a time when the US and the group were conducting sustained peace talks, which were led on the US side by the special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. The surge in bloodshed came as both sides thought they were heading toward a preliminary agreement.

The Taliban's attacks in 2019 included the targeting of civilians. For instance, in September of that year, the Taliban abducted the acting head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission's office in Ghor province, Abdul Samad Amiri, along with a government employee. Their bodies were found in the Jalrez district of Maidan Wardak province, an area under Taliban control.

The Taliban also carried out summary executions, torture, and ill-treatment, including forced labor of prisoners. The group has also been accused of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian objects during election-related attacks, as well as using weapons with indiscriminate effects against pro-government forces in civilian areas.

The Taliban's attacks in 2019 also resulted in a high number of child casualties. UNAMA documented that pro-government forces were responsible for the deaths of 414 children in 2018, while anti-government elements, including the Taliban, were responsible for the deaths of 324 children.

The Taliban's attacks in 2019 were not limited to Afghan civilians but also targeted international forces. For example, the group killed an American soldier in a suicide attack in Kabul in September 2019, which led to the US calling off the peace talks at the time.

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