Drone wars: A list of US air and drone strikes, Afghanistan 2016
Bureau of Investigative Journalism, January 7, 2016
A note on our data and methodology
The events detailed here occurred in 2016. These have been reported by US, Afghan and Pakistani civil, military and intelligence officials, and by credible media, academic and other sources, including on occasion Bureau researchers.
Below is a summary of US air and drone strikes in 2016, and casualty estimates for each. Our data changes according to our current understanding of particular strikes – none of the strikes in our data is seen as a complete record. Below represents our present understanding.
There are three classifications of strike listed below: confirmed, possible and “C” strikes.
The Bureau counts strikes as confirmed US operations when described as such by US military or government sources, senior Afghan officials, or a combination of three distinct, anonymous Afghan sources. For example: a police official at the provincial level, a military official in Kabul, and an Afghan intelligence officer.
The possible US operations are strikes attributed to the US by less authoritative sources. Over time, they could be ruled out as US attacks and removed from the database, or they could be confirmed by the above sources or combination of sources.
Finally, there are the “C” strikes. These are attacks that have been reported by a single source. They are not included in our casualty estimates, but they are listed in the timeline to highlight where further investigation is needed. A letter C is added to the reference number as a suffix in these cases.
All sources are reported as transparently as possible and a link to a citation is used where possible.
In order to give some context to the strikes, brief summaries of events in Afghanistan and internationally have been included in the timeline. These might include noteworthy military and political events in Afghanistan or political developments in Washington or Islamabad, for example. Some of these summaries include a body count – they are not included in the Bureau’s casualty estimates and they do not have a six figure alphanumeric code.
This research is part of the Bureau’s covert drone war project. The Bureau has collected extensive data on US drone strikes and air strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.
Reported US strikes, Afghanistan 2016
Confirmed US strikes
Possible US strikes
Total reported strikes:
13
0
Total reported killed:
5
0
Civilians reported killed:
0
0
Children reported killed:
0
0
Total reported injured:
0
0
Monitoring the US drone and air strikes in Afghanistan: A new project for the Bureau
The Bureau has been recording data on US air operations in Afghanistan since January 2015 – you can find our complete dataset of strikes up to December 31 2015 here.
Nato ended its combat mission in the country at the end of 2014, turning responsibility for security over to the Afghan army and police. However a “US-led counter-terrorist mission,” Freedom Sentinel, continued running into 2015. Air and drone strikes, as well as special forces raids, have targeted various armed groups in the country since January 1 2015
Freedom Sentinel is governed by a separate arrangement, the bilateral security agreement between the US and Afghanistan. It was signed in September 2014 immediately after Ashraf Ghani was sworn in as president. His predecessor Hamid Karzai had refused to sign either treaty.
Both the UK and Australia reportedly have special forces teams in Afghanistan, working with the US as part of the counter-terrorism mission.
The provinces of Afghanistan: US strikes have reportedly been focused in the south and east of the country. Click on the image to open a larger version in a new screen (Source: UNAMA).
A map showing Afghanistan’s administrative divisions
The US has considerable firepower at its disposal to support this mission. This includes the strike aircraft stationed at Bagram air base near Kabul and long-range, strategic bombers at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. Commanders in Afghanistan will have to share the Qatar-based bombers with their colleagues directing strikes in Iraq and Syria.
The UK and Australia also contribute forces to Nato’s non-combat, train and assist mission – Resolute Support. Forty Nato member and non-member states have troops in Afghanistan as part of Resolute Support.
The Bureau’s data by month for 2016
January 2016
AFG117
January 2 2016♦ 5 reported killed
♦ 2 reported injured
A US drone strike killed at least five former Pakistan Taliban (TTP) fighters in Kunar province. One of the dead, Abu Bakr, was thought to be the former TTP commander in Bajaur tribal agency in Pakistan. All five men had reportedly left the TTP and pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, also known as Isis.
Type of attack: US air or drone strike
Location: Shaltan Darra area, Shegal district, Kunar province
References: Khaama Press, The News International
January 5 2016 A US special forces operative was killed and two more injured during an “hours-long gun battle” in Helmand.
These were the first US casualties of 2016 though the Pentagon insisted the soldiers were not involved in a combat mission. A spokesman said they had come under fire while “conducting a train, advise and assist mission with their Afghan special operations counterparts”.
Two US helicopters were dispatched to evacuate the injured soldiers. But one hit a wall and damaged its rotor while the other did not land after taking fire. The gun battle went on for at least three hours after the casualties were reported by the Pentagon press office.
The soldiers were attacked with Afghan forces in the district of Marja in the southern Helmand province – the scene of intense fighting as the Afghan army and police struggled to resist the Taliban. The insurgents’ efforts to seize Helmand intensified in 2015 and continued into 2016. Helmand plays a central role in the Afghan opium trade.
Location: Marja district, Helmand province
References: The Guardian, Reuters, CNN, US Forces – Afghanistan
US F-16 jets filmed on January 6 at Bagram Air Base during operations supporting US and Afghan forces in Helmand province.
AFG118
January 6 2016
♦ Unknown killed
A dozen US strikes hit Helmand as fierce fighting between the Taliban and US and Afghan forces continued in the southern province.
A US spokesman said: “US forces have conducted 12 air strikes in support of operations in and around Marjah.” There were no reported casualties.
US “warplanes” had been flying air support sorties over the US forces in Helmand the day before this attack. It is not clear if this strike and those missions were carried out by drones or jets. US F-16s were known to be flying some support operations from Bagram airfield.
The US spokesman said the US was still operating in Marjah and Sanign districts after on US soldier was killed by Taliban gunfire, and two others were injured.
Type of attack: US air or drone strike
Location: Majah district, Helmand province
References: Reuters
Bureau of Investigative Journalism, January 7, 2016
A note on our data and methodology
The events detailed here occurred in 2016. These have been reported by US, Afghan and Pakistani civil, military and intelligence officials, and by credible media, academic and other sources, including on occasion Bureau researchers.
Below is a summary of US air and drone strikes in 2016, and casualty estimates for each. Our data changes according to our current understanding of particular strikes – none of the strikes in our data is seen as a complete record. Below represents our present understanding.
There are three classifications of strike listed below: confirmed, possible and “C” strikes.
The Bureau counts strikes as confirmed US operations when described as such by US military or government sources, senior Afghan officials, or a combination of three distinct, anonymous Afghan sources. For example: a police official at the provincial level, a military official in Kabul, and an Afghan intelligence officer.
The possible US operations are strikes attributed to the US by less authoritative sources. Over time, they could be ruled out as US attacks and removed from the database, or they could be confirmed by the above sources or combination of sources.
Finally, there are the “C” strikes. These are attacks that have been reported by a single source. They are not included in our casualty estimates, but they are listed in the timeline to highlight where further investigation is needed. A letter C is added to the reference number as a suffix in these cases.
All sources are reported as transparently as possible and a link to a citation is used where possible.
In order to give some context to the strikes, brief summaries of events in Afghanistan and internationally have been included in the timeline. These might include noteworthy military and political events in Afghanistan or political developments in Washington or Islamabad, for example. Some of these summaries include a body count – they are not included in the Bureau’s casualty estimates and they do not have a six figure alphanumeric code.
This research is part of the Bureau’s covert drone war project. The Bureau has collected extensive data on US drone strikes and air strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.
Reported US strikes, Afghanistan 2016
Confirmed US strikes
Possible US strikes
Total reported strikes:
13
0
Total reported killed:
5
0
Civilians reported killed:
0
0
Children reported killed:
0
0
Total reported injured:
0
0
Monitoring the US drone and air strikes in Afghanistan: A new project for the Bureau
The Bureau has been recording data on US air operations in Afghanistan since January 2015 – you can find our complete dataset of strikes up to December 31 2015 here.
Nato ended its combat mission in the country at the end of 2014, turning responsibility for security over to the Afghan army and police. However a “US-led counter-terrorist mission,” Freedom Sentinel, continued running into 2015. Air and drone strikes, as well as special forces raids, have targeted various armed groups in the country since January 1 2015
Freedom Sentinel is governed by a separate arrangement, the bilateral security agreement between the US and Afghanistan. It was signed in September 2014 immediately after Ashraf Ghani was sworn in as president. His predecessor Hamid Karzai had refused to sign either treaty.
Both the UK and Australia reportedly have special forces teams in Afghanistan, working with the US as part of the counter-terrorism mission.
The provinces of Afghanistan: US strikes have reportedly been focused in the south and east of the country. Click on the image to open a larger version in a new screen (Source: UNAMA).A map showing Afghanistan’s administrative divisions
The US has considerable firepower at its disposal to support this mission. This includes the strike aircraft stationed at Bagram air base near Kabul and long-range, strategic bombers at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. Commanders in Afghanistan will have to share the Qatar-based bombers with their colleagues directing strikes in Iraq and Syria.
The UK and Australia also contribute forces to Nato’s non-combat, train and assist mission – Resolute Support. Forty Nato member and non-member states have troops in Afghanistan as part of Resolute Support.
The Bureau’s data by month for 2016
January 2016
AFG117
January 2 2016♦ 5 reported killed
♦ 2 reported injured
A US drone strike killed at least five former Pakistan Taliban (TTP) fighters in Kunar province. One of the dead, Abu Bakr, was thought to be the former TTP commander in Bajaur tribal agency in Pakistan. All five men had reportedly left the TTP and pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, also known as Isis.
Type of attack: US air or drone strike
Location: Shaltan Darra area, Shegal district, Kunar province
References: Khaama Press, The News International
January 5 2016 A US special forces operative was killed and two more injured during an “hours-long gun battle” in Helmand.
These were the first US casualties of 2016 though the Pentagon insisted the soldiers were not involved in a combat mission. A spokesman said they had come under fire while “conducting a train, advise and assist mission with their Afghan special operations counterparts”.
Two US helicopters were dispatched to evacuate the injured soldiers. But one hit a wall and damaged its rotor while the other did not land after taking fire. The gun battle went on for at least three hours after the casualties were reported by the Pentagon press office.
The soldiers were attacked with Afghan forces in the district of Marja in the southern Helmand province – the scene of intense fighting as the Afghan army and police struggled to resist the Taliban. The insurgents’ efforts to seize Helmand intensified in 2015 and continued into 2016. Helmand plays a central role in the Afghan opium trade.
Location: Marja district, Helmand province
References: The Guardian, Reuters, CNN, US Forces – Afghanistan
US F-16 jets filmed on January 6 at Bagram Air Base during operations supporting US and Afghan forces in Helmand province.
AFG118
January 6 2016
♦ Unknown killed
A dozen US strikes hit Helmand as fierce fighting between the Taliban and US and Afghan forces continued in the southern province.
A US spokesman said: “US forces have conducted 12 air strikes in support of operations in and around Marjah.” There were no reported casualties.
US “warplanes” had been flying air support sorties over the US forces in Helmand the day before this attack. It is not clear if this strike and those missions were carried out by drones or jets. US F-16s were known to be flying some support operations from Bagram airfield.
The US spokesman said the US was still operating in Marjah and Sanign districts after on US soldier was killed by Taliban gunfire, and two others were injured.
Type of attack: US air or drone strike
Location: Majah district, Helmand province
References: Reuters
No comments:
Post a Comment