Afghanistan

Casualties

In December 2022, there were seven reported incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan, which resulted in 58 civilian casualties, 11 of whom were killed and 47 injured. Civilians accounted for 88% of all 66 casualties recorded in Afghanistan in December, as six armed actors were also killed and two injured. 

All civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 22% (13) of civilian casualties occurred on public transport, 16% (9) in markets, 10% (6) in residential areas, 7% (4) in hospitals, and 3% (2) in police stations. Another 41% (24) occurred in other populated locations. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Kandahar (24 civilian casualties), Nangarhar (15), Balkh (13), Takhar (4), and Badakhshan (2).

Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons reportedly caused 59% (34) of civilian casualties, specifically unknown non-state actors (32 civilian casualties) and ISIS-K (2). State actors were the reported perpetrators of 41% (24) of civilian casualties, specifically unknown state actors.

Directly-emplaced weapons caused 59% (34) of civilian casualties, specifically roadside bombs (19 civilian casualties), non-specific IEDs (13), and car bombs (2). Ground-launched weapons caused 41% (24) of civilian casualties, specifically mortars.

The highest casualty incident occurred on 11 December 2022, when four civilians were killed and 20 injured in mortar shelling by unknown state actors in Spin Boldak, Kandahar, during ongoing border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan in December remained consistent with levels in November, when six incidents and 58 civilian casualties (17 killed, 41 injured) were recorded. In October, 11 incidents were recorded, which resulted in 44 civilian casualties (5 killed, 39 injured).

Sources: Republic World, DNP India

Casualties

In November 2022, there were six reported incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan, which resulted in 58 civilian casualties, 17 of whom were killed and 41 injured. Civilians accounted for all casualties in November. 

All civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 35 (60%) occurred in schools, nine (16%) in urban residential areas, and 12 (21%) on roads.

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Samangan (35 civilian casualties), Kabul (7), Balkh (5), Takhar (5) and Kunar (4).

Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons reportedly caused 93% (54) of civilian casualties, specifically unknown non-state actors. Actors of unknown name and status caused 7% (4) of civilian casualties.

Non-specific IEDs reportedly caused 60% (35) of civilian casualties, mines caused 16% (9), roadside bombs caused 16% (9) and grenades caused 9% (5).

The highest casualty incident occurred on 30 November 2022, when 15 civilians were killed and 20 injured in an IED explosion outside a religious school in Aybak, Samangan.

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan fell in November 2022 compared to the previous month, as 11 were recorded in October.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Crisis24, BBC

Casualties

In October 2022, there were 11 reported incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan, which resulted in 44 civilian casualties, five of whom were killed and 39 injured. Civilians accounted for 63% of all 70 casualties, as 26 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, 13 of whom were killed and 13 injured. 

The vast majority of civilian casualties, 98% (43), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 82% (36) occurred in places of worship, 9% (4) in urban residential areas, and 7% (3) on roads. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Kabul (43 civilian casualties), and Kunar (1).

Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons reportedly caused 93% (41) of civilian casualties, specifically unknown non-state actors. Actors of unknown name and status caused 7% (3) of civilian casualties.

The use of directly-emplaced weapons was reportedly the cause of all civilian casualties. Non-specific IEDs caused 81% (39) of civilian casualties, mines caused 7% (3), and roadside bombs caused 5% (2). 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 05 October 2022, when four civilians were killed and 25 injured in a suicide IED attack on a mosque in Afghanistan's Interior Ministry in Kabul.

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan in October 2022 saw a rise from September, in which six incidents were recorded. However, significantly more civilian casualties, 276 (85 killed and 191 injured) were recorded in September. In August, there were 14 reported incidents of explosive weapon use which caused 152 civilian casualties (47 killed and 105 injured). 

Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, Crisis24

Casualties

In September 2022, there were six reported incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan, which resulted in 276 civilian casualties, 85 of whom were killed and 191 injured. At least seven civilian casualties were reportedly children. Civilians accounted for 96% of all 289 casualties, as 13 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, four of whom were killed and nine injured. 

All civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 59% (163) occurred in schools, 32% (89) in places of worship, 6% (17) in public buildings, 1% (4) in markets, and 1% (3) in urban residential areas. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Kabul (231 civilian casualties), Herat (41), and Takhar (4).

Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons reportedly caused 99% (272) of civilian casualties. Unknown non-state actors caused 92% (255) of civilian casualties, and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) were the reported perpetrators in the case of 6% (17) of civilian casualties.

The use of directly-emplaced weapons caused 99% (272) civilian casualties. Specifically, non-specific IEDs reportedly caused 81% (224) of civilian casualties, and car bombs caused 17% (48). Ground-launched weapons, specifically grenades, caused 1% (4) of civilian casualties.

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan in September 2022 saw a decrease from August, in which 14 incidents were recorded. However, fewer civilian casualties, 152 (47 killed and 105 injured) were recorded in August. In July, there were four reported incidents of explosive weapon use which caused 27 civilian casualties (three killed and 24 injured). 

Sources: AFP, VOA, BBC

Casualties

In August 2022, there were 14 reported incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan, 10 of which resulted in 152 civilian casualties, 47 of whom were killed and 105 injured. At least six civilian casualties were reportedly children and one was a woman. Civilians accounted for 85% of all 179 casualties, as 27 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, 12 of whom were killed and 15 injured. 

All civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 36% (54) occurred in places of worship, 20% (31) in commercial premises, 17% (26) at public gatherings, 16% (25) in urban residential areas, 9% (13) on public transport, 1% (2) in public buildings, and <1% (1) in schools. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Kabul (147 civilian casualties) and Balkh (5).

All civilian casualties were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons. Unknown non-state actors caused 63% (95) of civilian casualties, and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) were the reported perpetrators in the case of 38% (57) of civilian casualties.  

The use of directly-emplaced weapons caused all civilian casualties. Specifically, non-specific IEDs reportedly caused 80% (122) of civilian casualties, car bombs caused 11% (17), and roadside bombs caused 9% (13).

The highest casualty incident took place on 17 August 2022, when 21 civilians were killed and 33 injured in a suicide IED attack on Abu Bakr al Sadiq mosque, in Kabul's Khair Khana area.  

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan in August 2022 saw a sharp rise from July, in which four incidents reportedly caused 27 civilian casualties (three killed, 24 injured). In June, there were 12 reported incidents of explosive weapon use which caused 63 civilian casualties (13 killed, 50 injured). 

Sources: AP, BBC, Crisis24

Casualties

In July 2022, there were four incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan, three of which resulted in 27 civilian casualties, of whom three were killed and 24 injured. There were at least three children among the civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 93% of the total 29 casualties, as there were also two recorded armed-actor casualties, both of whom were killed. 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 29 July 2022, when two civilians were killed and 13 injured in a suicide grenade attack by an unknown perpatrator at Kabul’s main cricket stadium during a domestic league match. 

Sources: Reuters, Reuters II, AP

Casualties

In June 2022, there were 15 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan which resulted in 70 civilian casualties, of whom 16 were killed and 54 injured. There were at least three children among the civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 75% of the total 93 casualties, as there were also 23 recorded armed-actor casualties, 11 of whom were killed and 12 injured. 

The majority of civilian casualties, 87% (61), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 41% (29) of occurred in markets, 23% (16) in places of worship, 9% (6) in urban residential areas, 9% (6) on public transport, 3% (2) in commercial premises, 1% (1) in villages, and 1% (1) on roads. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Nangarhar (25 civilian casualties), Kabul (18), Kunduz (13), Kunar (6), Helmand (4), Maidan Wardak (2), Badakhshan (1), and Kandahar (1).

The majority of civilian casualties, 81% (57), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons. ISIS were the reported perpetrator in the case of 11% (8) of civilian casualties, and unknown non-state forces were the reported perpetrator in the case of 70% (49). Groups of unknown status and name were the perpetrator in the case of 19% (13) of civilian casualties.

 The use of directly-emplaced weapons was the cause of 70% (49) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (41) and roadside bombs (8). Ground-launched weapons were the cause of 27% (19) of civilian casualties, specifically grenades (12) and UXOs (7). 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 20 June 2022, when two civilians were killed and 23 injured, as well as five Taliban members, in a magnetic mine explosion in a crowded market in Nangarhar, targeting a government official’s vehicle. 

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan in June 2022 saw a rise from May, in which eight incidents were recorded that caused 66 civilian casualties (20 killed and 46 injured). However, the number of incidents of explosive weapon use remained lower than April, in which 16 reported incidents caused 518 civilian casualties (191 killed, 327 injured). 

Sources: MNA, EFE, Khaama

Casualties

In May 2022, there were eight incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan which resulted in 66 civilian casualties, of whom 20 were killed and 46 injured. There were at least three children and three women among the civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 99% of the total 67 casualties, as there was also one recorded armed-actor casualty, who was injured. 

The majority of civilian casualties, 95% (63), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 38% (25) of recorded civilian casualties occurred on public transport, 36% (24) in places of worship, 11% (7) in markets, 7% (5) on roads, and 3% (2) at public gatherings. The remaining 5% (3) of civilian casualties occurred in other or unknown locations. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Balkh (28 civilian casualties), Kabul (28), Nangarhar (7), and Kunduz (3).

The majority of civilian casualties, 95% (63), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons. ISIS were the reported perpetrator in the case of 41% (27) of civilian casualties, and unknown non-state forces were the reported perpetrator in the case of 54% (36). Groups of unknown status and name were the perpetrator in the cases of 5% (3) of civilian casualties.

The use of IEDs was the cause of 95% (63) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (60), and roadside bombs (3). Ground-launched weapons were the cause of 5% (3) of civilian casualties, specifically UXOs. 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 25 May 2022, when as many as 10 civilians were killed and 15 injured in an ISIS IED attack on buses in Mazar-i-Sherif. 

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan in May 2022 saw a sharp decrease from April, in which 16 incidents were recorded that caused 518 civilian casualties (191 killed and 327 injured). However, levels of explosive violence remain higher than March, in which 3 reported incidents of explosive weapon use caused 29 civilian casualties (9 killed, 20 injured). 

Sources: AFP

Casualties

In April 2022, there were 15 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan, resulting in 511 civilian casualties, of whom 186 were killed and 325 injured. There were at least two children and one woman among the civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 98% of the total 519 casualties, as there were also eight recorded armed-actor casualties, three of whom were killed and five injured. 

The majority of civilian casualties, 99% (508), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 58% (296) of recorded civilian casualties occurred in places of worship, 14% (69) in villages, 5% (30) in entertainment venues, 6% (29) in markets, 5% (25) in urban residential areas, 5% (23) in schools, 4% (22) on roads, 2% (10) in locations in which the detonation of an explosive weapon affects multiple types of spaces within an urban environment , and >1% (4) on public transport. The remaining 0.7% (3) of civilian casualties occurred in other or unknown locations. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Afghanistan were Kabul (209 civilian casualties), Kunduz (98), Balkh (92), Khost (63), Herat (40), Kunar (6), and Badakhshan (3).

The vast majority of civilian casualties, 85% (436), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons. ISIS were the reported perpetrator in the case of 52% (265) of civilian casualties. Unknown non-state forces were the reported perpetrator in the case of 33% (171) of civilian casualties. Pakistan state forces were reportedly responsible for 14% (69) of civilian casualties. Groups of unknown status and name were the perpetrator in the cases of >1% (6) civilian casualties.

The use of IEDs was the cause of 80% (407) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (394), car bombs (10), and roadside bombs (3). Air strikes were the cause of 14% (69) of civilian casualties. Ground-launched weapons were the cause of 7% (35) of civilian casualties, specifically grenades. 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 29 April 2022, when as many as 66 civilians were killed in an ISIS explosion in Khalifa Sahib mosque, in Kabul. 

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan in April 2022 saw a sharp rise from March, in which three incidents were recorded that caused 29 civilian casualties (nine killed and 20 injured), and also February, in which one reported incident of explosive weapon use caused 15 civilian casualties. 

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Al Mayadeen

Casualties

In March 2022, there were three incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan which resulted in 29 recorded civilian casualties, nine of whom were killed and 20 injured. There were no armed-actor casualties from explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan in March. 

The majority of casualties occured in one incident on 6 March 2022, when an improvised explosive device was detonated at the gate of a mosque in Dand Aw Patan, Paktia, as worshippers were leaving Friday prayers. Three people were killed and 20 injured in the explosion.

Sources: ANI, NYT, Xinhua

Casualties

In February 2022, there was one incident of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan which resulted in 15 civilian casualties, one of whom was killed and 14 injured. There were no armed-actor casualties from explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan in February. 

On 11 February 2022, one civilian was killed and fourteen wounded by an IED blast at Grand Jami Mosque in Qala-i-Naw, Badghis. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. 

Sources: IBNS, Dawn, Pajwok

Casualties

In January 2022, there were three incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan which resulted in 18 civilian casualties, nine of whom were killed and nine injured. Civilians accounted for 86% of the total 21 casualties recorded in January, as three armed-actors were also injured by explosive weapon use. Among the civilian casualties were at least four women and two children.

All but one of the civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. The locations in which civilian casualties occurred were public transport (16), a village (1), and a road (1). The provinces in which civilian casualties were recorded in January were Herat (16), Kabul (1), and Kunar (1). 

Seventeen of the 18 civilian casualties were caused by unknown non-state actors’ use of directly-emplaced weapons, including a non-specific improved explosive device (IED) (16 civilian casualties), and a roadside bomb (1). One civilian, a boy child, was killed by a rocket fired by Pakistani state forces.

The highest casualty incident recorded last month took place on 22 January 2022, when an IED attached to a bus killed at least seven people and injured nine others in Herat. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. 

Sources: Al Jazeera, Pajhwok, Pajhwok

Casualties

In December 2021, there were seven incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan, five of which resulted in a total of 20 civilian casualties, 15 of whom were injured and five killed. There were six recorded armed-actor casualties, one killed and five injured. 

All civilian casualties occurred in populated areas, as a result of directly-emplaced weapons, specifically improvised explosive devices, and were perpetrated by non-state actors. 

The highest casualty incident took place on 15 December 2021, when two children were killed and eight other civilians injured by an improvised explosive device that detonated at a wedding in Khalach, Uruzgan province. 

Sources: CGTN, Republic World

Casualties

In November 2021, there were ten incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan, nine of which caused a total of 58 civilian casualties. Of these, 43 were injured and 15 killed. Civilians accounted for 73% of the total 79 recorded casualties. There were an additional 21 armed-actor casualties, including 10 killed and 11 injured. 

About 93% (54) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas, while 7% took place in areas not reported as populated. Specifically, 33% (19) civilian casualties occurred in urban residential areas, 31% (18) in a place of worship, 26% (15) in a hospital, as well as two in a village, two in a road, and two civilian casualties were recorded with no location-type specified. 

Directly-emplaced weapons, specifically IEDs and roadside bombs, were the cause of 93% (54) civilian casualties, 43 of whom where injured and 11 killed. Two civilian casualties were caused by landmines, and two by ground-launched weapons, specifically a grenade. 

Civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were recorded in three provinces, including Kabul (34), Nangarhar (20) and Logar (4). 

Non-state actors were recorded as the perpetrator in the case of 93% (54) of civilian casualties, 29 of which could be attributed to explosive weapon use by the Islamic State in Afghanistan. 

There was one recorded suicide attack in Afghanistan in November 2021, which was the highest casusalty incident this month. On 2 November 2021, 12 people were killed, including four civilians (three women and one child) and 16 were wounded, including 11 civilians, in an Islamic State suicide attack on a military hospital in Kabul’s 10th district. 

Both suicide and non-suicide attacks by Islamic State members in Afghanistan has risen since the Taliban took control of the country. Last month, October 2021, 296 people were killed in Islamic State suicide bombings. Though there were two more incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Afghanistan in November than in October 2021, the number of civilian casualties has decreased significantly, from 338 in October to 58 in November 2021. 

Sources: AP, Al Jazeera, Reuters

Casualties

In October 2021, there were eight incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan, six of which caused 338 civilian casualties, 120 of whom were killed and 218 injured, all in populated areas. These civilian casualties were caused primarily by directly-emplaced weapons, specifically the detonation of IEDs and roadside bombs, and one incident involved ground-launched weapons, specifically a grenade. The provinces where incidents of explosive weapon use took place in Afghanistan in October were Kabul, Kunar, Kunduz, and Nangarhar. The location-types in which civilians were killed and injured were places of worship (321), urban residential areas (13), and villages (4). 

Of the total 338 civilian casualties, 88% (296) occurred in two Islamic State suicide bombings at Shia mosques, one in the northern province of Kunduz and the other in the southern province of Kandahar. On 8 October 2021, at least 50 civilians were killed and 100 injured when an Islamic State suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest inside the Said Abad mosque in the city of Kunduz. More than 300 people were attending prayers when the attack happened. A week later, on 15 October 2021, 63 civilians were killed and 83 injured when two Islamic State suicide bombers detonated explosive vests inside the Bibi Fatima mosque in the city of Kandahar. The third-highest casualty incident in October also took place at a mosque. On 3 October 2021, a roadside bomb was detonated outside the Eid Gah mosque in Kabul at a memorial service. The attack killed five civilians and injured 20 others. 

Civilian casualties of explosive weapons in Afghanistan in October saw a significant increase from September, in which 11 civilian casualties were recorded across three incidents of explosive weapon use. This increase is owed to the rise in high-casualty attacks by the Islamic State on Shia mosques. 

Sources: AP, Al Jazeera, ANI

Casualties

In September 2021, there were three incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan, resulting in 11 civilian casualties, including two fatalities and nine injuries. All civilian casualties were caused by the detonation of IEDs, and 82% (9) of civilian casualties occurred in Nangarhar province. On 18 September, two civilians were killed, including one child, and three civilians injured, when three Islamic State IEDs targeted Taliban convoys in Jalalabad. There were an additional 30 armed-actor casualties. On 25 September, four civilians were injured, alongside four armed-actor casualties, in a roadside bomb blast that targeted a Taliban vehicle. 

Since the withdrawal of foreign military presence in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of incidents and casualties of explosive weapon use. Civilian casualties in 2021 reached a peak in May, with 693 civilians killed or injured in Afghanistan, after the United States’ announcement of the withdrawal of NATO forces from the country in September. In August, as Taliban forces gained control of several provincial capitals and NATO forces’ evacuation processes reached their final weeks, 451 civilians were killed or injured by explosive weapons in Afghanistan.  

Sources: Alarabiya, Times of India, The Journal, Independent

In August 2021, across 26 incidents, Afghanistan suffered 451 civilian casualties, accounting for 33% of the total casualties (1,383) from explosive weapon use. 192 of the civilian casualties were killed and 11 were reportedly children. 87% (394) of the civilian deaths and injuries were caused by directly emplaced explosive weapons, specifically IEDs, while 9% (39) were caused by ground-launched weapons, specifically mortars, and 4% (18) by air-launched weapons. 14 of the total 26 incidents of explosive weapon use took place in populated areas, and all of the 451 civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. These populated areas include locations such as transport related infrastructure and in urban residential areas.

The incident with the highest number of civilian casualties took place on 26 August when a suicide bomber from the Islamic State’s Afghanistan branch (ISIS-K) detonated a suicide vest and IED in a large crowd outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, in the final days of evacuation flights out of the country. 334 civilians were killed or wounded in the attack, and 61 armed-actors, including NATO forces and Taliban members, were also casualties. This incident accounted for 74% of the civilian casualties in August 2021. August saw a significant increase in the number of recorded casualties of explosive violence from July, as Taliban offensives on provincial capitals intensified and culminated in their takeover of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, and the nation as a whole. The number of civilian casualties increased by 71% when compared to July. The number of armed-actor casualties increased dramatically from 268 in July to 932 in August. 87% of the armed-actor casualties were fatalities. The vast majority of recorded armed-actor casualties were Taliban members. The province with the highest number of civilian casualties was Kabul, owing to the ISIS-K suicide attack at HKIA’s Abbey Gate. The provinces with the next highest numbers of civilian casualties were Ghazni (22), Herat (13), and Balkh (12). With regard to armed actor casualties, provinces with the highest casualty numbers were Jowzjan (248), Herat (200), Kandahar (113), and Helmand (110). 

Sources: BBC, Al Jazeera

In July 2021, across 48 incidents, Afghanistan suffered 263 civilian casualties, 50% of the total casualties (531) from explosive weapons use. 88 of the civilian casualties were killed and 26 of the civilian casualties were reportedly children. 42% (110) of the civilian casualties were caused by ground-launched weapons, specifically mortars, while 36% (94) were caused by directly emplaced explosive weapons and 14% (37) by air-launched weapons. 33 of the 48 incidents took place in populated areas, and of the total casualties from these incidents (294), 82% were civilians (240).

The incident with the highest number of civilian casualties took place on 15 July when 12 civilians were killed and 20 injured in an airstrike by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Shuhada district of Badakhshan province, according to local officials.

July saw a decrease in the civilian casualties of explosive weapons of 27% when compared to June. However, civilian casualties still account for at least half the total number of casualties from explosive weapon use in the country. The most dangerous province for civilians in July was Kandahar, where 62 civilians were killed or injured by explosive weapon use. The number of civilian casualties from ground launched weapons increased significantly, from 72 in June to 110 in July, whereas the number of casualties from directly emplaced weapons, specifically IEDs, dropped from 231 civilian casualties in June to 94 in July. This is representative of a shift in tactics by the Taliban, as the Islamic fundamentalist group began focussing their efforts on capturing provincial capitals, causing an increase in the number of civilian casualties from the crossfire between the Taliban and ANSF.

Source: NYT.

In June 2021, there were 55 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan with 362 civilian casualties, 59% of the total casualties (612) from explosive weapon use this month. 114 civilians were killed and 35 of the civilian casualties were reportedly children. 67% of the incidents (37) were from directly emplaced explosive weapons, specifically IEDs in the form of roadside bombs (22), non-specific IEDs (7), and car bombs (8). 20 of the 55 incidents took place in populated areas, and of the total casualties from these incidents (244), 87% were civilians (213). The incident with the highest number of confirmed civilian casualties occured on 1 June in a predominantly Hazara neighbourhood of west Kabul, when two car bombs were detonated in quick succession, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding 12 others. The first bomb exploded in front of a Shiite mosque and near the home of a prominent Hazara leader. A third bomb in the attack was detonated at an electrical grid station in north Kabul, heavily damaging the site and plunging the city into darkness, though no casualties were recorded from the third bomb. Another particularly injurious incident took place on 6 June in the provincial capital of Balkh province, Mazar- i-Sharif, when a car bomb was detonated outside the police headquarters, killing 17 members of the security forces, 2 civilians, and wounding 69 others. The number of civilians among the wounded was not specified in English-language media reporting. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The proportion of civilian casualties in June is 47% less than in May. Sources: NYT, AP.

Across 73 incidents in May 2021, Afghanistan suffered 693 civilian casualties from explosive weapon use, 226 of which were fatal. Civilians accounted for 76% of the total casualties (910). 60% of these incidents (44) were from directly emplaced explosive weapons, predominantly IEDs in the form of roadside bombs (24), non-specific IEDs (15), and car bombs (4). 37 of the 73 incidents took place in populated areas, and of the total casualties from these incidents (666), 96% were civilians (641). The deadliest incident recorded this month took place on 7 May in Kabul, when three explosives, including a car bomb, were detonated outside the Sayed-Ul-Shahada high school in Dasht-e-Barchi, a Hazara neighbourhood in western Kabul. 90 civilians were killed and 240 injured, mostly female students. The Afghan government blamed the Taliban for the attack, though the group has denied responsibility. May has been the deadliest month for Afghan civilians so far this year from the use of explosive weapons. Civilian casualties have more than doubled April’s recordings (306), while armed-actor casualties have seen a 15% increase from April (189) to May (217). The increase in civilian casualties is widely attributed to a rise in attacks perpetrated by the Taliban since 1 May, when the US announced the date for the final withdrawal of troops would be 11 September, 2021. Sources: NYT, Al Jazeera, BBC, Reuters