List of drone strikes in Afghanistan
Since January 2015, multiple drone strikes have been conducted by the United States government in Afghanistan. These strikes began during the administration of the United States President Barack Obama. Since the presidency of Donald Trump, it has been estimated that drone strikes have multiplied at a pace of four to five times compared with previous presidency of Barack Obama.
The first ever drone strike conducted in Afghanistan was on Jan 1, 2015, at Spera District, Khost province. There have been a total of at least 4130 airstrikes conducted by the US government, killing at least 3923, with 150 civilians and 36 children. Besides the US government, the Afghan Air Force is the only other force carrying out air strikes in Afghanistan. Since June 1, 2016, the AAF has conducted at least 41 strike capable operations.
Criticism
The United States government has faced great criticism owing to the number of civilian casualties and many killed being unintended targets. The Amnesty International has also condemned drone attacks, equating these with unlawful executions and war crimes.Timeline
2015
- 1 January 2015: One unknown killed in a US drone strike Spera District Khost Province.
- 3 January 2015: Twenty-five were killed in two separate drone strikes, one at Gayan District Paktika province killing eighteen and the other at Spera District Khost Province killing seven.
- 7 January 2015: Three reported killed in the eastern part of Logar Province.
- 8 January 2015: Six reported killed and three injured in a US air strike at Chikanawr area, Lal Pura District, Nangarhar Province.
- 11 January 2015: Eight killed and three injured at Chikanawr area, Lal Pura District, Nangarhar Province.
- 16 January 2015: Three killed at Nazyan District, Nangarhar Province.
- 17 January 2015: One unknown killed or injured at Lal Pura District, Nangarhar Province.
- 19 January 2015: One unknown killed or injured at Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province.
- 29 January 2015: Four killed at Nazyan District, Nangarhar Province.
2016
- 2 January 2016: Five former Pakistani Taliban fighters who pledged alliance to ISIL, including the former TTP commander in Bajaur tribal agency in Pakistan, Abu Bakr, were killed by a US drone strike, further injuring two militants in the Shaltan Darra area, located in the Shegal district, located in the Kunar province.
- 5 January 2016: A US Special Forces soldier, Army Staff Sgt. Matthew McClintock, was killed during an hours-long gun battle by Taliban militants, also injuring two other soldiers, in the Marjah district, located in the Helmand province, marking him the first US casualty of 2016.
- 6 January 2016: Twelve US air or drone strikes killed an unknown number of people in the Majah district, located in the Helmand province.
- 8 January 2016: AAF strikes hit and killed 23 ISIL militants in the Achin and Kot districts, located in the Nangarhar province.
- 8 January 2016: A US air or drone strike killed 17-20 ISIL militants, including four senior commanders, who were executing seven men at the time, with a large number of civilians forced to watch in the Maktab village, located in the Pekha area, located in Achin District, located in the Nangarhar province. Two civilians were injured and there were possible civilian deaths.
- 8 January 2016: A US air or drone strike killed an unknown number of people “to eliminate threats to the force” in the Kharkhez district, located in the Kandahar province.
- 8 January 2016: A US air or drone strike killed an unknown number of people “to eliminate threats to the force” in the Bermal district, located in the Paktika province.
- 9 January 2016: 20 ISIL militants were killed by a US drone strike in Achin District, located in the Nangarhar province.
- 9 January 2016: 15 ISIL militants were killed by a US air or drone strike in the Janjal Gondai area, located in the Kot district, located in the Nangarhar province, further injuring three people, including a woman.
- 9 January 2016: Ten militants from Pakistan were killed by a US air or drone strike in the Shegal district, located in the Kunar province. The victims included Zishan, Haqyar and Sajid Mohammed, aged 13 to 14, who was the son of Maulvi Faqir Mohammad a former deputy leader of the TTP, who served under the command of Baitullah and Hakimullah Mehsud.
2017
2018
- 1 January 2018: At least 61 ISIL militants were killed, including one civilian, in the Nangarhar province by a possible US strike. A further 30 ISIL militants were injured, including 14 civilians.
- 1 January 2018: Twenty-six people, including foreigners and prominent ISIL commanders, were killed by a possible US strike in the village of Saradara and Alkhani in the Darzab district. Some victims included famous militant commander Qari Zia aka Shuja, and two other prominent militants, Yaqub and Shaikh, a judge. There were also possible civilian casualties.
- 1 January 2018: A possible US strike killed seven Taliban fighters in the Bati Kot district. A second strike killed two members of ISIL's Afghan branch in Achin District.
- 5 January 2018: A possible US strike killed 10 ISIL militants in a training camp in Nangarhar's Haska Mena district while they were in training. Two compounds belonging to ISIL were also destroyed, leaving five militants dead. Another strike killed six militants during ground operations.
- 5 January 2018: A possible US strike killed 14 ISIL militants, including two commanders, in the Nad-e Ali district in the Laghman province.
- 6 January 2018: An unnamed key Taliban leader responsible for "financial deals and providing logistics" for militants was killed in the Helmand province by a possible US strike.
- 10 January 2018: Twenty-one militants, including seven foreigners from Pakistan, were killed by a possible US strike in the Khak e Safid district, located in the Farah province.
- 1 April 2018: Mullah Lal Mohammad, a local Taliban leader in the Kandarhar province, was killed by a AAF strike in the Nish district, injuring 11 other members of his group Also the same day, an US strike killed an unknown number of Taliban fighters in the Nad Ali district
- 2 April 2018: Afghan military strike kills at least 70, including 21 terrorists, one of whom was a Taliban commander, and injured 30 others during a religious ceremony at a Mosque in Dasht-e-Archi.
- 3 April 2018: US drone strike killed four ISIL militants in Nangarhar.
- 5 April 2018: A high-ranking ISIL commander named Qari Hikmatullah and his bodyguard were killed in a US drone strike in the northern province of Jowzjan
- 6 April 2018: An AAF strike killed eight militants in Farghamerawi locality of Wardoj district.
2019
- 18 September 2019: A US drone strike intended to hit an Islamic State hideout killed 30 pine-nut farmers in the Nangarhar province.
- 1 December 2019: A US drone strike on a car carrying a woman who had just given birth near Khost left five people dead.
2020
- 8 January 2020: More than 60 civilians were killed or wounded in a US drone attack targeting Mullah Nangyalay, a top Taliban splinter-group commander in Herat Province.