The Toll Of War: Remembering Fallen Navy Heroes In Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths of many US Navy SEALs. The conflict, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, claimed the lives of numerous American servicemen and women, with a significant number of fatalities occurring among Navy personnel. The war, which was initiated in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, proved to be the longest war in American history, spanning nearly two decades and resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.

The US War in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the country's economy, public health, security, and infrastructure

Economy

Afghanistan has one of the most depressed economies globally, with half of its population facing hunger and shortages of supplies and money. The per capita gross domestic product rose from $21.80 in 2002 to $647 in 2018, a nearly 3,000% increase. However, this growth was not sustainable, as the country became heavily dependent on foreign aid and the drug economy. Foreign aid accounted for around 45% of the country's GDP and funded 75% of the government's budget for health and education services. The war also disrupted economic activities, and the number of jobs available to Afghans is currently declining, contributing to increasing poverty rates.

Public Health

The war has had a significant impact on the health of Afghans, with two-thirds suffering from mental health issues and elevated rates of disease due to lack of clean drinking water, malnutrition, and reduced access to healthcare. The conflict has led to a reduction in health staff, causing the collapse of the healthcare system and public health infrastructure. However, there have been some improvements, such as a decrease in maternal mortality and increased access to healthcare in certain areas due to cooperation between NGOs and the Afghan government.

Security

The US-led coalition's combat mission formally ended in 2014, with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) taking charge of the country's security. However, the ANDSF faced significant challenges in holding territory and defending population centers against Taliban attacks. Despite a small US troop increase in 2017 and a shift in strategy to target Taliban revenue sources, the war remained a stalemate. In 2017, the US military relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes, resulting in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties.

Infrastructure

The war has disrupted critical infrastructure in Afghanistan. USAID has been working to improve infrastructure, providing power supply to millions of citizens and constructing roads to connect remote villages with schools and health clinics. However, the country still faces challenges in providing access to clean drinking water and improving transportation infrastructure.

The war has led to a significant number of casualties among US Navy personnel. On August 6, 2011, a transport helicopter was shot down in Wardak province, killing 30 Americans, including 22 Navy SEALs. This incident marked the highest number of American fatalities recorded in a single incident during the war in Afghanistan.

The US military's relaxed rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan in 2017 led to a 330% increase in civilian casualties

The US military's decision to relax its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan in 2017 had a devastating impact on civilian casualties, with a 330% increase in civilian deaths from US-led airstrikes between the last year of the Obama administration and the final full year of recorded data during the Trump administration. This meant that hundreds of civilians, including children, lost their lives due to this policy change.

The US military's choice to loosen restrictions on airstrikes was intended to gain leverage at the bargaining table in negotiations with the Taliban. However, the consequences of this decision were severe for Afghan civilians. The number of civilians killed by US and allied airstrikes between 2017 and 2019 increased by 95% compared to the previous decade. Furthermore, during intra-Afghan talks, the Afghan Air Force caused more civilian casualties than ever before, as they were now taking the lead on airstrikes with US support.

The impact of the US's relaxed rules of engagement was felt across Afghanistan. In one tragic incident in July 2018, the US Air Force carried out airstrikes on a residential compound in Kunduz province, resulting in the deaths of 14 women and children from the same family. Despite initial denials, the US eventually admitted to causing 12 civilian deaths and one injury in this strike.

The US's role in the increasing civilian death toll cannot be overstated. From 2016 to 2019, the number of weapons dropped from the air by the US and its allies was higher than at any other time during the war, including the height of their presence in 2011. This heavy bombardment resulted in the deadliest year of airstrikes for children in Afghanistan, with 236 minors killed and 256 injured in 2018 alone.

The US military's actions stand in stark contrast to the goal of pacifying Afghanistan and building a democratic and civil society. Instead, they have contributed to the massive impoverishment of Afghans, with 92% of the population facing food insecurity and 3 million children at risk of acute malnutrition. The war has also taken an invisible toll, with two-thirds of Afghans suffering from mental health issues, according to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health in 2009.

In total, the Afghanistan/Pakistan warzone has seen approximately 243,000 deaths since 2001, with over 70,000 civilian fatalities. The US military's decision to relax its rules of engagement for airstrikes in 2017 has undoubtedly contributed to this devastating loss of life.

The highest number of American fatalities in a single incident was in August 2011 when a transport helicopter was shot down, killing 30 Americans, including 22 Navy SEALs

On 6 August 2011, a US CH-47D Chinook military helicopter was shot down by an insurgent armed with a rocket-propelled grenade. The helicopter was transporting a Quick Reaction Force to reinforce a Joint Special Operations Command unit of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Tangi Valley in Maidan Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan.

The resulting crash killed all 38 people and a military working dog on board. This included 30 American military personnel: 17 US Navy SEALs, two United States Air Force Pararescue, one United States Air Force Combat Control Team member, one pilot and two crewmen of the United States Army Reserve, one pilot and one crewman of the United States Army National Guard, and four US Naval Special Warfare support personnel. The remaining eight passengers were seven members of the Afghan National Security Forces and one Afghan interpreter.

The shootdown of Extortion 17, the helicopter's call sign, represents the greatest single-incident loss of American lives in Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan. The incident surpassed the 16 lives lost in the downing of Turbine 33, an MH-47 helicopter, during Operation Red Wings on 28 June 2005.

The Taliban asserted responsibility for the attack and the deaths of the 30 US service members and eight Afghans on board. US officials confirmed that there was enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash, but could not definitively say what brought the helicopter down. An investigation following the shootdown concluded that all operational decisions made were tactically sound and that the helicopter crashed after an RPG round impacted the aft rotor assembly.

The War in Afghanistan has resulted in a significant number of coalition deaths, including those from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, and other countries

The War in Afghanistan has resulted in a heavy loss of lives, with 3,606 coalition deaths as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF since the invasion in 2001. The United States has suffered the highest number of casualties among coalition forces, with 2,461 deaths, including 18 CIA operatives. The war has also claimed the lives of coalition partners from the UK (457), Canada (159), France (90), Germany (62), Italy (53), Poland (44), Denmark (43), Australia (41), and other countries.

The conflict has not only taken a toll on the military but also on contractors and civilians. Over 8,000 contractors working for the US have perished in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq. Additionally, the war has resulted in the deaths of approximately 177,000 uniformed personnel from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria. The number of civilian casualties is also significant, with an estimated 70,000 Afghan and Pakistani civilians losing their lives as a direct result of the war.

The war's impact extends beyond the battlefield, with veterans from various countries suffering from mental health issues and psychological wounds, contributing to a high rate of suicides among those who served. The human cost of the war is immense, and its consequences will continue to be felt for years to come.

The breakdown of casualties by country provides a glimpse into the toll the war has taken on each contributing nation. The UK, Canada, and France account for 20% of the coalition deaths, with other countries also bearing a significant burden. The war in Afghanistan has exacted a heavy toll, not just on the US but also on its coalition partners, and its impact will be felt for years as nations continue to grapple with the physical and psychological wounds inflicted by this conflict.

The US Department of Defense Casualty Status report records 2,218 deaths among American service members in Afghanistan between October 7, 2001, and December 31, 2014

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, resulted in a significant loss of lives. According to the U.S. Department of Defense Casualty Status Report, 2,218 American service members lost their lives in Afghanistan between October 7, 2001, and December 31, 2014. This period, referred to as Operation Enduring Freedom, saw the majority of U.S. military deaths in the conflict.

The war in Afghanistan was America's longest war, spanning nearly two decades and involving multiple U.S. administrations. The conflict began under President George W. Bush in 2001, just weeks after the Al-Qaeda attacks on September 11, which sparked the "War on Terror." Despite the passage of time and efforts to pacify the country, the goal of establishing a democratic and civil society in Afghanistan remained elusive.

The human toll of the war extended beyond the U.S. military. According to reports, over 20,000 American service members were wounded in the conflict, many of whom now live with permanent disabilities. Additionally, the lives lost among Afghan civilians and military personnel were far greater, with approximately 47,000 civilian deaths and 66,000 Afghan national military fatalities.

The war also took a heavy toll on the mental health of those involved. Many veterans have struggled with psychological issues, and some have even taken their own lives. The true cost of the war is, therefore, not limited to those who died but also includes those who continue to bear the invisible wounds of war.

The U.S. Department of Defense Casualty Status Report provides valuable insights into the human cost of the war in Afghanistan, specifically regarding American service members. The report covers the period from October 7, 2001, to December 31, 2014, known as Operation Enduring Freedom, which saw the majority of U.S. military deaths in the conflict.

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