Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians

Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians

Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians

December 6, 2012 (R41084)

Contents

Figures

Figure 1. American Casualties by Year Through December 6, 2012

Tables

Table 1. Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S. Fatalities and Wounded

Table 2. American Casualties by Year Through December 6, 2012

Table 3. Deaths of Coalition Partners in Afghanistan

Table 4. Afghan Casualties

Summary

This report collects statistics from a variety of sources on casualties sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which began on October 7, 2001, and is ongoing. OEF actions take place primarily in Afghanistan; however, OEF casualties also include American casualties in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.

Casualty data of U.S. military forces are compiled by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), as tallied from the agency's press releases. Also included are statistics on those wounded but not killed. Statistics may be revised as circumstances are investigated and as records are processed through the U.S. military's casualty system. More frequent updates are available at DOD's website at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/ under "Casualty Update."

A detailed casualty summary of U.S. military forces that includes data on deaths by cause, as well as statistics on soldiers wounded in action, is available at the following DOD website: http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/castop.htm.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) does not post casualty statistics of the military forces of partner countries on the ISAF website at http://www.isaf.nato.int/. ISAF press releases state that it is ISAF policy to defer to the relevant national authorities to provide notice of any fatality. For this reason, this report uses fatality data of coalition forces as compiled by CNN.com and posted online at http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/oef.casualties/index.html.

Reporting on casualties of Afghans did not begin until 2007, and a variety of entities now report the casualties of civilians and security forces members. The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) reports casualty data of Afghan civilians semiannually, and the U.S. Department of Defense occasionally includes civilian casualty figures within its reports on Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, http://www.aihrc.org/2010_eng/, and the Afghan Rights Monitor, http://www.arm.org.af/, are local watchdog organizations that periodically publish reports regarding civilian casualties. From July 2009 through April 2010, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) included statistics of casualties of members of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in its quarterly reports to Congress. SIGAR has ceased this practice, and there is no other published compilation of these statistics. This report now derives casualty figures of Afghan soldiers and police from the press accounts of the Reuters "Factbox: Security Developments in Afghanistan" series, the Pajhwok Afghan News agency, the Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Daily Outlook Afghanistan from Kabul, and the AfPak Channel Daily Brief. These services attribute their reported information to officials of the NATO-led ISAF or local Afghan officials. The Afghan news agencies frequently include statements from representatives of the Taliban; however, any figures such spokesmen provide are not included in this report.

Because the estimates of Afghan casualties contained in this report are based on varying time periods and have been created using different methodologies, readers should exercise caution when using them and should look to them as guideposts rather than as statements of fact.

This report will be updated as needed.

Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians

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.

Table 2. American Casualties by Year Through December 6, 2012

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.

Table 3. Deaths of Coalition Partners in Afghanistan

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.

Table 4. Afghan Casualties

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.