War Casualties’ Weekly Report (May 23-29, 2019)

 

War Casualties’ Weekly Report (May 23-29, 2019)

Issue Number: 3

Introduction

QASED Strategic Research Center closely monitors the casualties of civilians and the involved parties due to war and security incidents on a weekly basis, and prepares this weekly report.

The casualties’ figures that happened due to the war last week have been collected based on the confirmed information and reports from the Afghan government spokespersons, Taliban sources, witnesses in the area, and other reliable sources and information.

This report covers the casualties’ of security incidents in the country, which have been occurred during May 23-29, 2019. Here below, there are the casualties’ exact figures and details of the Afghan government forces, Antigovernment Armed Militants and civilians in separate titles.

Casualties of the Afghan Forces

Dozens of Afghan Forces were killed, and dozens were injured in the past week. Most of the Afghan forces casualties were in the Northern provinces. On May 27, at the minimum 20 police have been killed and around five others were injured when a clash occurred in Ghor province center. On the same day, in the wake of Taliban attack on a check post in Sabari district of Khost province, 12 Afghan forces were killed and 12 wounded. Also, on May 26, at the minimum six policemen were killed in a similar incident in the Patan area of Paktia province. On the same day, nine policemen were killed, and seven wounded in Sar-e-pul and Kunduz provinces. On 24th of May, two policemen were killed in a Taliban attack on a police station in Chaharbolak district of Balkh province. On May 27, eight policemen were killed, and 27 injured in various parts of Sar-e-pul Province. On 26th of May, 10 police have been killed because of a mine explosion in Balabolok district of Farah province. On May 26, a policeman was killed and 7 other wounded in a Taliban attack in Qades district of Badghis province. On May 29, six ANA soldiers were killed in Taliban attack in Cheshma Sheer area of Baghlan province. (table-1)

Table-1: Afghan Forces’ Casualties

Name	Killed	Injured	Total Killed and Injured
Afghan National Army	6	0	6
Police	68	58	126
Total	74	58	132

 

 

Casualties of the Antigovernment Armed Militants

In the past week, the antigovernment armed militants equally suffered severe casualties. On May 27, 21 Taliban fighters were killed in US forces’ airstrike in Dowab area of Musa Qala district of Helmand province. Also, four armed men were killed in an airstrike in the Abdul Rashid Karez area of Nahr-e-Saraj district of this province. On 28th of May, 4 armed militants have been killed due to an airstrike in Sangin district of Helmand province. Similarly, 2 armed militants were killed due to explosion of a mine in the Khakash Karez area of Sangin district. On 28th May, 26 militants were killed, and 7 others were injured during the Afghan Air Force strike and ground operations, in Chamkani district of Paktia province. Likewise, 16 Taliban fighters have been killed in the Zara Gyan, Khwajakhel and Makar villages in Gyan district of Paktia province. On 26th of May, 15 armed militants were killed in Barmal district of Paktika. On 26th of May, 10 Taliban fighters were killed in Afghan Special Forces Operations in Toto area of Sherzad district of Nangarhar province. On 26th May, 12 Taliban militants have been killed, including a commander during an operation of foreign forces in Ghazni province. On May 26, 30 Taliban militants have been killed in an operation of National Security Special Forces in Marja district of Helmand province. On 23th of May, two armed militants were killed in a clash on Taliban fighters in the Kalankachi area of Maiwand district, Kandahar province. On May 25, four Taliban militants have been killed and 2 other wounded in Abazak and Faqir Qala area of Mohammad Agha district of Logar province. On 28th of May, seven Taliban militants have been killed and 3 other wounded during an operation of Afghan forces in Kandahar province. Moreover, 15 Taliban fighters were killed and around 20 others were wounded in an armed conflict in Sar-e-pul province. On 29th of May, eight Taliban militants were killed during a clash in Baghlan province. On May 26, five Taliban fighters were killed, and two others wounded during a clash in the Chardara district of Kunduz province. On May 26, seven Taliban fighters were killed, and 10 injured during a clash in Dawlatabad district of Faryab province.

In addition, on 28th of May, nine ISIS militants have been killed, including a leader of the ISIS fighters in the security forces operation in Nangarhar province. (table-2)

Table 2: Casualties of the Antigovernment Militants

Name	Killed	Injured	Total Killed and Injured
Taliban	188	44	232
ISIS	9	–	9
Total	197	44	241

 

 

Civilian Casualties

Afghan civilians suffered heavy casualties during the past week in airstrikes and night raids. This week UNAMA also expressed concern over the civilian casualties due to the Afghan and foreign forces’ air strikes. On May 24, a religious scholar named Mufti Samiullah Raihan was killed and 16 other civilians were injured due to a blast in Altaqwa mosque located in the ninth district of Kabul City. On May 27th, 10 people related to the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs have been wounded by a magnetic mine blast on a coaster bus in the second district of Kabul City. On 25th of May, at least six civilians including women and children were killed in the Afghan forces airstrike in Nangarhar province. The AIHRC has shown serious reaction to this incident. On 24th of May, 12 civilians were injured due to a blast in Aino Mena in Kandahar province; six of them are children and four women. On May 27, three civilians, including a child, were killed during a clash between the Afghan forces and Taliban in Sar-e-Pul province. On 27th of May, 16 civilians were killed, and 16 others were wounded during a clash in Ferozkoh city the center of Ghor province. Also, on 23rd of May, 14 civilians were killed in foreign forces’ airstrikes in Helmand and Kunar provinces. Four civilians have been killed during a clash in the Dawlatabad district of Faryab prvince on May 26th. On May 27, seven members of a family have been killed at night 2 AM, and two others were injured in Karate Sakhi Jamal Mena area of Kabul City, among them two were men, two women and three children. Although it is said, that the motive of this incident is private enmity. (table-3)

Table 3: Civilian Casualties

Name	Killed	Injured	Total Killed and Injured
Civilians	51	56	107
Total	51	56	107

 

 

Casualties of Foreign Forces

Despite the claims of Taliban in this week, the casualties of the Foreign Forces were not officially accepted; but the foreign forces confirmed that a helicopter was completely destroyed during an emergency session in Helmand province and the Afghan and foreign soldiers were injured in the incident. It is also not revealed that how many people were riding on this helicopter.

Conclusion

The last week’s report shows that during May 23, 29, 2019 the total casualties of war and security incidents were 480 people, most of whom were anti-government armed militants (table-4). Although the Taliban do not confirm such casualties to their fighters; but QASED tried as in the past to confirm these casualties from independent sources. Over the last week, however, the number of civilian casualties due to night rides and air strikes were at high level. In this regard, UNAMA and Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission have also shown serious concerns through publishing their declarations.

Table 4: Total Casualties of War and Security Incidents

Name	Killed	Name	Wounded
Afghan Forces	74	Afghan Forces	58
Antigovernment Militants	197	Antigovernment Militants	44
Civilians	51	Civilians	56
Total	322	Total	158
Total Casualties  480

 

 

The end