Afghan Battlefield Casualties: Remembering The Fallen

The War in Afghanistan has resulted in thousands of casualties. Since the US-led invasion in 2001, over 2,400 American service members have died in the country, with some sources placing the figure at 2,324. The war has also resulted in the deaths of thousands of Afghan military and police personnel, civilians, and opposition fighters. The conflict has led to significant casualties among Western coalition partners, with countries such as the UK, Canada, France, Germany, and others losing soldiers in the conflict. The human cost of the war extends beyond direct casualties, with mental health issues, injuries, illnesses, and displacement affecting both military personnel and civilians.

US soldier deaths in Afghanistan

The US military death toll in the Afghanistan War since 2001 is roughly 2,500. This figure includes deaths "in and around Afghanistan", including some in Pakistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the deaths of 18 CIA operatives.

The US Department of Defense recorded 2,443 military deaths across Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. About 95% of those deaths, 2,311, happened in Afghanistan.

The deadliest year for foreign military troops since the US invasion in 2001 was 2010, with 711 deaths.

The war in Afghanistan lasted for two decades and cost the lives of 2,324 US military personnel, 3,917 US contractors, and 1,144 allied troops.

The war also led to high suicide rates among post-9/11 war service members. Official Pentagon numbers do not include troops who return home and later die by suicide, but it is estimated that over 30,177 service members and veterans of the post-9/11 wars have died by suicide—over four times as many as have died in combat.

UK soldier deaths in Afghanistan

The UK suffered a total of 457 fatalities of British Forces personnel, including Ministry of Defence civilians, in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2020. The vast majority of these fatalities occurred since the redeployment of British forces to the Taliban stronghold of Helmand province in 2006. Prior to this, only five men died between April 2002 and early March 2006.

Of the 457 fatalities, 404 are classed as killed "as a result of hostile action" and 51 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation. The Army has seen the heaviest losses, with 362 fatalities as of 1 May 2013. Typically, those killed were aged between 20 and 29, and the biggest losses were seen in 2009 and 2010. Of those killed, 439 were male and three were female.

The UK's death toll in Afghanistan exceeded that of the Falklands War in February 2010. The UK's death toll in Afghanistan was also higher than that of the US in relative terms, with the UK losing 455 lives, which was 4.7% of its peak deployment level, while the US lost 2,316 lives, or 2.3% of its vast military presence.

Canadian soldier deaths in Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2001 to 2021, resulted in a significant number of casualties for the Canadian Forces, with 159 Canadian soldiers losing their lives during this conflict. This toll includes both those killed in action and those who died from non-combat-related causes. The conflict in Afghanistan had the highest number of fatalities for any single Canadian military mission since the Korean War between 1950 and 1953.

The first casualties occurred during the Tarnak Farm incident, where four Canadian soldiers were killed and eight others were seriously wounded due to a bomb dropped by a US warplane during a training exercise. Throughout the war, Canadian soldiers faced various dangers, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide bomb attacks, vehicle accidents, and friendly fire incidents.

In addition to the physical dangers, the war took a significant mental toll on Canadian soldiers. As of November 2015, it was reported that at least 54 Canadian soldiers and veterans had died by suicide after returning from the war. This number highlights the profound psychological impact of the conflict on those who served.

The human cost of the war extended beyond the soldiers themselves. Seven Canadian civilians also lost their lives during the conflict, and countless others were affected, including the families and loved ones of those who served and sacrificed their lives.

The Canadian Virtual War Memorial honours the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, ensuring that their service and bravery are never forgotten.

Australian soldier deaths in Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan has had a profound impact on the Australian Army and the entire defence force. Around 30,000 Australian Defence Force personnel served in Afghanistan, with 41 deaths and 261 wounded. The majority of casualties occurred since October 2007.

The first Australian combat death since the Vietnam War was Sergeant Andrew Russell, 33, who was travelling through southern Afghanistan when his vehicle struck a landmine. The most recent death was Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird, 32, who was killed by small arms fire during an engagement with insurgents in 2013.

Many Australian soldiers fought and died alongside the Afghan soldiers they mentored. They persevered even when trust was broken by 'insider' killings of Australian and other allied soldiers by disaffected Afghan personnel.

The Australian military has been accused of unlawful killings of civilians and efforts to cover up incidents. An Australian military inquiry report found "credible information" of potential "war crimes" committed by Australian troops, including the unlawful killing of 39 Afghan prisoners and civilians between 2005 and 2016. The report described a "warrior culture" embraced by some members of the force, with patrol commanders requiring junior soldiers to shoot prisoners to achieve a first kill.

The impact of the war in Afghanistan on the Australian Army has been profound, with technological advances and a greater integration of the war fighter and intelligence. However, there have also been cultural and professional shortfalls within Special Operations Command, and friction between major special forces units. The intense rotations in Afghanistan over 11 years have taken a toll on the special forces, leading to isolation from the rest of the army.

New Zealand soldier deaths in Afghanistan

Since the start of the War in Afghanistan, nearly 2,400 American service members have died. Additionally, 20,719 US service members have been wounded in hostile action.

New Zealand has also suffered losses in the War in Afghanistan. Ten New Zealand Defence Force soldiers have died in Afghanistan, most while carrying out their duties as part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Bamyan Province.

The first NZDF death in Afghanistan was Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, in August 2010. O'Donnell was killed when his three-vehicle patrol was attacked by insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades in Bamiyan Province. Two other New Zealand soldiers were injured in the attack.

In February 2011, Private Kirifi Mila died when the Humvee he was in rolled down a 30-metre cliff in the village of Ferosak in Bamiyan Province. Three other soldiers in the vehicle were injured.

In August 2011, Corporal Doug Grant of the New Zealand SAS died on the way to hospital in Kabul after being shot through the armhole of his body armour. Taliban insurgents had stormed a British compound.

In September 2011, Lance Corporal Leon Smith, also of the New Zealand SAS, was killed by a shot to the head in Wardak province. The SAS were assisting Afghan police to break up a group planning an attack on Kabul.

In April 2012, Corporal Douglas Hughes died at the Romero forward patrol base in Bamiyan Province in a non-combat situation. The results of a Defence Force investigation into the cause of death are not yet available.

In August 2012, Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Malone died during an insurgent attack in a small village in Bamiyan Province. Six others were also injured.

Also in August 2012, Corporal Luke Tamatea, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, and Private Richard Harris died when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Lance Corporal Baker was New Zealand's first female casualty in a combat role since women were allowed to serve on the frontline in 2000.

In total, over 3,500 New Zealanders took part in military operations and training missions in Afghanistan.

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