 | This section needs to be updated. (September 2023) |
| Number of foreign soldiers killed in Afghanistan
TOTAL: 3,621 |
Throughout the War in Afghanistan, there had been 3,621 coalition deaths in Afghanistan as part of the coalition operations (Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF) since the invasion in 2001.[1] In this total, the American figure is for deaths "In and Around Afghanistan" which, as defined by the United States Department of Defense, includes some deaths in Pakistan and Uzbekistan[3] and the deaths of 18 CIA operatives.[4]
In addition to these deaths in Afghanistan, another 59 U.S. and one Canadian soldier were killed in other countries while supporting operations in Afghanistan. The total also omits the 62 Spanish soldiers returning from Afghanistan who died in Turkey on 26 May 2003, when their plane crashed.
During the first five years of the war, the vast majority of coalition deaths were American, but between 2006 and 2011, a significant proportion were amongst other nations, particularly the United Kingdom and Canada which have been assigned responsibility for the flashpoint provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, respectively. This is because in 2006, ISAF expanded its jurisdiction to the southern regions of Afghanistan which were previously under the direct authority of the U.S. military. As Robert Gates pointed out on 10 June 2011, in his "last policy speech" as U.S. Secretary of Defense, "more than 850 troops from non-U.S. NATO members have made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. For many allied nations these were the first military casualties they have taken since the end of the Second World War."[5] Additionally, there have been 95 fatalities among troops from the non-NATO contributors to the coalition (Georgia, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, Finland, Jordan, South Korea and Albania).
With 711 Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF deaths, 2010 was the deadliest year for foreign military troops since the U.S. invasion in 2001, continuing the trend that occurred every year since 2003.[1]
In 2009, there were 7,228 improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in Afghanistan, a 120% increase over 2008, and a record for the war.[6][7] Of the 512 foreign soldiers killed in 2009, 448 were killed in action. 280 of those were killed by IEDs.[8] In 2010, IED attacks in Afghanistan wounded 3,366 U.S. soldiers, which is nearly 60% of the total IED-wounded since the start of the war.[9] Of the 711 foreign soldiers killed in 2010, 630 were killed in action. 368 of those were killed by IEDs, which is around 36% of the total IED-killed since the start of the war to date.[1] Insurgents planted 14,661 IEDs in 2010, a 62% increase over the previous year.[10]
- ^ a b c d "Operation Enduring Freedom". iCasualties.org. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Pamięci Poległych w misjach poza granicami kraju" (in Polish). Ministry of National Defence Republic of Poland. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- ^ U.S. Defense Department. Defenselink Casualty Report
- ^ Goldman, Adam; Rosenberg, Matthew (6 September 2017). "A Funeral of 2 Friends: C.I.A. Deaths Rise in Secret Afghan War". The New York Times.
- ^ Robert Gates (10 June 2011). "Reflections on the status and future of the transatlantic alliance". Security & Defence Agenda. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
Consider that when I became Secretary of Defense in 2006 there were about 20,000 non-U.S. troops from NATO nations in Afghanistan. Today, that figure is approximately 40,000. More than 850 troops from non-U.S. NATO members have made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. For many allied nations these were the first military casualties they have taken since the end of the Second World War.
- ^ Day, Thomas L.; Landay, Jonathan S. (28 December 2009). "U.S. intelligence: 'Time is running out' in Afghanistan". McClatchy Washington Bureau. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Vanden, Tom (16 March 2009). "Poll: More view Afghan war as 'mistake'". USA Today. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ U.S. intelligence: 'Time is running out' in Afghanistan
- ^ Vanden, Tom (10 January 2011). "Afghan insurgents match surge with more IEDs". USA Today. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Whitlock, Craig (26 January 2011). "Number of U.S. casualties from roadside bombs in Afghanistan skyrocketed from 2009 to 2010". The Washington Post.