The following tables present data on U.S. military casualties in Operation Enduring Freedom, deaths of coalition partners in Afghanistan, and Afghan casualties, respectively.
Table 1. Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S. Fatalities and Wounded
(as of December 6, 2012, 10 a.m. EDT from October 7, 2001)
|
Fatalities in and Around Afghanistana |
Fatalities in Other Locationsb |
Total Fatalitiesc |
Wounded in Action |
||
|
Hostiled |
1,700 |
11 |
1,711 |
||
|
Nonhostilee |
338 |
107 |
445 |
||
|
Total |
2,038 |
118 |
2,156 |
Total |
18,109 |
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, http://www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf.
a. "Fatalities in and around Afghanistan" includes casualties that occurred in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.
b. "Other locations" includes casualties that occurred in Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.
c. Fatalities include three Department of Defense civilian personnel.
d. According to the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, as amended through 31 August 2005, a "hostile casualty" is a victim of a terrorist activity or a casualty as the result of combat or attack by any force against U.S. forces, available at http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/dod_dictionary/.
e. The above-named reference defines a "nonhostile casualty" as a casualty that is not directly attributable to hostile action or terrorist activity, such as casualties due to the elements, self-inflicted wounds, or combat fatigue.
|
Year |
Total Deaths |
Total Wounded in Action |
|
2001 |
11 |
33 |
|
2002 |
49 |
74 |
|
2003 |
45 |
99 |
|
2004 |
52 |
217 |
|
2005 |
98 |
268 |
|
2006 |
98 |
403 |
|
2007 |
117 |
748 |
|
2008 |
155 |
795 |
|
2009 |
311 |
2,144 |
|
2010 |
499 |
5,247 |
|
2011 |
414 |
5,204 |
|
2012 through December 6 |
306 |
2,877 |
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Statistical Information Analysis Division, https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/dcas/pages/report_oef_month.xhtml, with the addition of three Department of Defense civilian personnel.
|
Figure 1. American Casualties by Year Through December 6, 2012 |
|
Source: Created by CRS based on data from U.S. Department of Defense, Statistical Information Analysis Division, https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/dcas/pages/report_oef_month.xhtml. |
|
Countrya |
# of Deaths 2012 |
Total # of Deaths |
Country |
# of Deaths 2012 |
Total # of Deaths |
Country |
# of Deaths 2012 |
Total # of Deaths |
|
Albania |
1 |
1 |
Germany |
52 |
Poland |
36 |
||
|
Australia |
7 |
39 |
Hungary |
6 |
Portugal |
2 |
||
|
Belgium |
1 |
Italy |
5 |
49 |
Romania |
19 |
||
|
Canada |
158 |
Jordan |
1 |
South Korea |
1 |
|||
|
Denmark |
42 |
Latvia |
4 |
Spain |
1 |
35 |
||
|
Estonia |
9 |
Lithuania |
1 |
Sweden |
4 |
|||
|
Finland |
2 |
Netherlands |
25 |
Turkey |
12 |
14 |
||
|
France |
10 |
88 |
New Zealand |
6 |
10 |
United Kingdom |
44 |
438 |
|
Georgia |
3 |
12 |
Norway |
10 |
||||
|
Total Non-U.S. Fatalities of the International Security Assistance Force |
88 |
1,059 |
||||||
Source: CNN Casualties in Afghanistan, http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/war.casualties/table.afghanistan.html; Canada's Department of National Defence, http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/fallen-disparus/index-eng.asp; United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInAfghanistanBritishFatalities.htm; Australia's Department of Defence, http://www.defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/info/personnel.htm; Ministero della Difesa, http://www.difesa.it/OperazioniMilitari/op_intern_corso/ISAF/Pagine/IncidentieCaduti.aspx; "Factbox: Military Deaths in Afghanistan," Reuters News, August 12, 2012.
a. Countries listed indicate the nationality of the military forces, not of the individuals. For example, Fijians who were killed while fighting in French forces are counted as French. Similarly, citizens of other nations who fight in American military forces are counted as Americans.
|
Group |
Period |
Number of Casualties |
Note |
|
Afghan Civilians |
January-June 2012a |
1,145 killed 1,954 wounded |
Civilian casualties dropped 15% in 2012 through the end of June compared with the same period of 2011. International and Pro-Government Forces were responsible for about 10% of the casualties. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) caused 33% of civilian deaths and injuries in 2012. Targeted killings of pro-government officials by Anti-Government Elementsb (AGEs) increased 53% compared with the first six months of 2011. |
|
Up to 11,864 civilians were killed in Afghanistan from 2007, when the United Nations began reporting statistics, to the end of 2011. |
2011c |
3,021 killed 4,507 injured Includes 495 targeted killings of local, provincial, and district government officials and workers. |
AGEs killed 2,332 civilians, 77% of all conflict-related civilian deaths. Pro-government forces were responsible for 410 civilian deaths. It is unclear who caused the remaining 279 deaths. |
|
2010d |
2,777 killed 4,343 injured |
AGEs were reported responsible for 75% of the civilian deaths and 78% of civilian injuries. |
|
|
2009e |
2,412 killed 3,566 injured |
67% of civilian deaths were attributed to actions of AGEs (78% of these deaths were caused by improvised explosive devices and suicide attacks). 25% of civilian deaths were attributed to pro-government forces. 8% of civilian deaths were the result of cross-fire or improperly detonated ordnance. |
|
|
2008f |
2,118 killed |
||
|
2007f |
1,523 killed |
||
|
Afghan National Army and National Directorate of Security Operatives |
January-June 2012a |
173 killed 327 wounded |
As of August 23, 2012, 53 Afghan soldiers and police officers had been killed and 22 others wounded this year by their Afghan colleagues.g |
|
2011a |
511 killed 256 wounded |
||
|
2010 |
821 killedh 775 woundedi |
Information released by General Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Afghan Defence Ministry. |
|
|
2009j |
292 killed 859 wounded |
||
|
2008k |
259 killed 875 wounded |
||
|
2007k |
278 killed 750 wounded |
||
|
Afghan National, Local, and Border Police |
January-June 2012a |
349 killed 418 wounded |
On June 30, 2012, dozens of Taliban fighters reportedly crossed the border from Pakistan and stormed a village in Nuristan province. Four suicide bombers targeted the house of the local police chief. Six policemen and up to eight civilians died in the 12-hour long battle. It was reported that up to 20 Taliban also died. |
|
2011a |
569 killed 552 wounded |
||
|
2010l |
1,292 killed 743 wounded |
||
|
2009m |
639 killed 1,145 wounded |
||
|
2008n |
724 killed 1,209 wounded |
||
|
2007n |
688 killed 1,036 wounded |
Source: Compiled by the Congressional Research Service from noted sources.
a. United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Afghanistan Mid-Year Report 2012: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, July 2012, p. 1, http://unama.unmissions.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-_vDVBQY1OA%3d&tabid=12254&language=en-US; press reports from Reuters, the Pajhwok Afghan News agency, Daily Outlook Afghanistan, the Afghan Islamic Press, and the AfPak Channel Daily Brief.
b. In its Mid-Year Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) defines Pro-Government Forces as the Afghan forces that participate in military or paramilitary counter-insurgency operations and are in direct or indirect control of the Government of Afghanistan. These forces include local defense forces, local police, the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, National Directorate of Security, and the Afghan Border Police. UNAMA identifies the Anti-Government Elements (AGEs) as non-state groups or individuals currently using arms to oppose the Government of Afghanistan or international military forces. These groups include those identified as the "Taliban" as well as additional groups, such as the Haqqani Network, Hezb-e-Islami, Lashkari Tayyiba, and others.
c. United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, Afghanistan: Annual Report 2011, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, February 2012, p. 1-2, 4, http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/Documents/UNAMA%20POC%202011%20Report_Final_Feb%202012.pdf.
d. United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, Human Rights Unit, Afghanistan: Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 2010, March 2011, p. i-1, http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/human%20rights/March%20PoC%20Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf.
e. United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, Human Rights Unit, Afghanistan: Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 2009, January 2010, p. I, http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/human%20rights/Protection%20of%20Civilian%202009%20report%20English.pdf.
f. United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, Human Rights Unit, Afghanistan: Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 2008, January 2009, p. 12, http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/human%20rights/UNAMA_09february-Annual%20Report_PoC%202008_FINAL_11Feb09.pdf.
g. "Attacks on Afghan Troops by Colleagues Are Rising, Allies Say," The New York Times, August 23, 2012.
h. "Bomb Kills Five U.S. Troops in Southern Afghanistan," Reuters News, August 11, 2011.
i. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, April 30, 2010, p. 58, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2010-04-30qr.pdf; response via email from the staff of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, August 9, 2010; and press reports from Reuters and the Pajhwok Afghan News agency.
j. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, July 30, 2009, p. 55. http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-07-30qr.pdf; Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, October 30, 2009, p. 62, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-10-30qr.pdf; and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, January 30, 2010, p. 64, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2010-01-30qr.pdf.
k. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, July 30, 2009, p. 55, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-07-30qr.pdf.
l. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, July 30, 2009, p. 60, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-07-30qr.pdf; Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, October 30, 2009, p. 66, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-10-30qr.pdf; and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, January 30, 2010, p. 69, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2010-01-30qr.pdf.
m. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, July 30, 2009, p. 60, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-07-30qr.pdf; Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, October 30, 2009, p. 66, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-10-30qr.pdf; and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, January 30, 2010, p. 69, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2010-01-30qr.pdf.
n. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, July 30, 2009, p. 60, http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2009-07-30qr.pdf.