Deadly Devices: Ied Attacks Plague Afghanistan

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been used extensively in Afghanistan, causing civilian deaths and injuries, as well as military casualties. Between October 2010 and September 2020, there were 2,288 IED attacks in Afghanistan, resulting in 6,625 civilian deaths and 15,012 injuries. Among the victims were at least 1,409 children and 782 women. IEDs have been the leading cause of conflict-related civilian deaths in Afghanistan every year since 2001, except for 2014 and 2016. The Taliban are responsible for the majority of IED attacks in the country, with such attacks becoming widespread after 2009.

The Taliban's use of IEDs in Afghanistan

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been used extensively by the Taliban in Afghanistan. These bombs are constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action and are commonly used as roadside bombs or homemade bombs.

The Taliban, who imposed strict Islamic rule following a devastating civil war, were ousted by a US-led invasion in 2001 but have since made a resurgence. The conflict in Afghanistan has been marked by the use of IEDs, which have been the leading cause of conflict-related civilian death in the country almost every year since 2001. The Taliban are responsible for the majority of IED attacks in Afghanistan in the last decade, with such attacks becoming widespread after 2009.

IEDs are generally used in terrorist operations or in asymmetric unconventional warfare by insurgent guerrillas or commando forces. They are triggered by various methods, including remote control, infrared or magnetic triggers, pressure-sensitive bars, or trip wires. In Afghanistan, IEDs are often made using legacy-of-war materials or with readily available precursor materials that are sourced from neighbouring Pakistan. The use of IEDs in the country has risen and fallen in line with levels of Taliban military activity.

IEDs have caused significant harm to civilians, with 27,539 civilian casualties from explosive violence in Afghanistan in the past 10 years. Of these, 77% (21,637) were caused by IEDs, resulting from some 2,288 IED attacks between October 2010 and September 2020. A total of 6,625 civilians were killed and 15,012 were wounded by IEDs in the last decade. Furthermore, at least 1,409 children were killed or injured by IEDs during this period, and there were at least 782 female casualties.

In addition to civilian harm, IEDs have also taken a toll on military personnel. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2001, there have been 829 US military personnel killed in Afghanistan by IEDs, constituting 42% of all American forces killed during the war. Likewise, 222 British troops were killed by IEDs, making up 49% of all British military deaths in Afghanistan.

The use of IEDs in Afghanistan has had a significant impact, causing widespread destruction and contributing to the country's chronic instability. The Taliban's use of these weapons has not only resulted in numerous casualties but has also disrupted efforts to establish peace and stability in the region.

The impact of IEDs on civilians in Afghanistan

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been the leading cause of conflict-related civilian deaths in Afghanistan every year since 2001, except for 2014 and 2016. Between October 2010 and September 2020, there were 2,288 IED attacks in Afghanistan, causing 21,637 civilian casualties (6,625 killed and 15,012 wounded). This accounts for 77% of the 27,539 civilian casualties from explosive violence in the country over the last decade.

IEDs are often used in populated areas, causing harm overwhelmingly to civilians. From 2011 to 2015, 82% of recorded casualties were civilians. They are frequently used to target civilian objects, including airports, markets, police stations, schools, public transit, commercial hubs, nightclubs, courts, political gatherings, and sports venues. These attacks not only produce large-scale carnage but also impede commerce, contribute to internal displacement and refugee flows, obstruct humanitarian responses, and disrupt the provision of essential services such as healthcare, education, and sanitation.

Children and women are often among the victims of IEDs. In Afghanistan, at least 1,409 children were killed or injured by IEDs between October 2010 and September 2020, with 289 of those casualties caused by victim-activated IEDs. Girls' schools have also been targeted by IED attacks. Additionally, 782 women in Afghanistan have been harmed by IEDs in the last decade, accounting for at least 21% of the casualties in reported incidents.

The use of IEDs has a significant socioeconomic impact, affecting sustainable development goals, particularly in areas of political instability, infrastructure destruction, and high recovery and rehabilitation costs. The threat of IEDs also creates an environment of sustained insecurity, hindering security sector reform and recruitment. It has also led to profound changes in military priorities, tactics, and strategies, often involving significant costs. For example, the increased use of helicopters instead of vehicles and the need for armoured vehicles and specialized training and medical support to protect personnel.

The impact of IEDs extends beyond direct casualties, as they disrupt and delay humanitarian operations and development programmes. They create uncertainty for humanitarian organizations, affecting their ability to deliver crucial aid and assistance effectively. The perceived threat of IEDs can compel organizations to react strongly, leading to the closure or relocation of much-needed programmes. The use of IEDs against civilians violates their human rights, including the rights to life, physical security, education, and health.

The rise in IED attacks after 2009

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been the leading cause of conflict-related civilian deaths in Afghanistan every year since 2001, except for 2014 and 2016. The use of IEDs in Afghanistan has risen and fallen in line with the levels of Taliban military activity. The Taliban are responsible for the majority of IED attacks in Afghanistan in the last decade, with such attacks becoming widespread after 2009.

Between October 2010 and September 2020, there were 2,288 IED attacks in Afghanistan, resulting in 21,637 civilian casualties (35% of whom were women and children). In the same period, there were 3,565 armed actors killed and 3,071 injured.

IEDs are bombs constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. They are commonly used as roadside bombs or homemade bombs. IEDs are generally used in terrorist operations or in asymmetric unconventional warfare or urban warfare by insurgent guerrillas or commando forces. They are extremely diverse in design and may be triggered by various methods, including remote control, infrared or magnetic triggers, pressure-sensitive bars, or trip wires.

The use of IEDs by terrorists worldwide has increased over time, but it generally follows trends in other types of terrorist activity. The proportion of terrorist attacks that depend on IEDs has remained relatively steady from 1970 to 2004. As in other types of terrorist attacks, Western Europe, South America, and the Middle East and North African regions have experienced the highest prevalence of IED attacks.

The use of IEDs is not a good predictor of death or injury from an IED attack. The use of IEDs by terrorists in the United States, for example, makes up a very small proportion of worldwide terrorist attacks, and this proportion has decreased over time. However, the specialized use of vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) and suicide IEDs results in a much higher rate of fatality per attack than the use of other types of IEDs.

The unlawful use of IEDs, particularly by non-state armed groups and rogue individuals, is spreading quickly. IED attacks deliberately target concentrations of civilians to achieve maximum lethality, terror, and societal disruption. Annually, IED attacks kill and injure more people than attacks with any other type of weapon except firearms.

The use of IEDs by insurgent groups in Afghanistan

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have been used extensively by insurgent groups in Afghanistan. IEDs are bombs constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. They are often used as roadside bombs or homemade bombs.

IEDs are triggered by various methods, including remote control, infrared or magnetic triggers, pressure-sensitive bars, or trip wires. They are often constructed using conventional military explosives, such as artillery shells, attached to a detonating mechanism. IEDs can also incorporate military or commercially sourced explosives or homemade explosives (HME).

The impact of IEDs in Afghanistan has been devastating. Between October 2010 and September 2020, there were 2,288 IED attacks, resulting in 27,539 civilian casualties. Of these, 77% (21,637) were caused by IEDs. Additionally, 829 US military personnel and 222 British troops have been killed by IEDs in Afghanistan since 2001, accounting for 42% and 49% of total military deaths, respectively. IEDs have also taken a toll on children and women, with at least 1,409 children and 782 women harmed by IEDs in the last decade.

The effectiveness of IEDs in causing coalition casualties in Afghanistan

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have been the leading cause of conflict-related civilian death in Afghanistan every year since 2001 (excluding 2014 and 2016). Between October 2010 and September 2020, there were 2,288 IED attacks in Afghanistan, causing 21,637 civilian casualties (6,625 killed and 15,012 wounded). This means that 77% of civilian casualties from explosive violence in the country during this period were caused by IEDs.

IEDs have also been highly effective at causing military casualties in Afghanistan. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2001, 829 US military personnel and 222 British troops have been killed by IEDs in Afghanistan, constituting 42% and 49% of all American and British military deaths in the country during this period, respectively.

The effectiveness of IEDs in causing casualties among both civilians and military personnel in Afghanistan can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, IEDs are often detonated in close proximity to their targets, either through the use of suicide bombers or by being triggered by the weight or movement of the victim or their vehicle. This allows the insurgent to maximize the lethality of the device while remaining physically distant from the scene of the attack, reducing their chances of death, injury, or capture.

Secondly, IEDs are often constructed using readily available materials, such as legacy-of-war explosives or commercially available electronic components. This lowers the barrier to entry for insurgent groups seeking to employ IEDs and makes it difficult for counter-IED forces to adapt to the constantly evolving designs of the devices.

Additionally, the use of IEDs enables insurgents to seize the initiative from coalition forces, choosing when and where to attack and forcing the militarily stronger coalition to react. This can lead to a sense of frustration among coalition forces, potentially resulting in overreactions that play into the insurgents' hands by generating negative perceptions of coalition forces among the local population.

Furthermore, the widespread use of IEDs has had a significant impact on coalition tactics and strategies. To protect against IED attacks, coalition forces have had to confine themselves to heavily armored vehicles, avoid roads, and increase their use of helicopters and other measures, reducing their maneuverability and ability to interact with the local population. This plays into the insurgents' hands by hindering counterinsurgency efforts and isolating coalition forces from the people they aim to protect.

The effectiveness of IEDs in causing casualties and their strategic advantages for insurgent groups have made them a widely adopted tactic in Afghanistan, with the Taliban responsible for the majority of IED attacks in the country over the last decade.

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