List of drone strikes in Afghanistan

Drone strikes in Afghanistan
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the continuous Afghanistan conflict
DateJanuary 2001 – present[1][2]
Location
Afghanistan
  • 13,072 drone strikes confirmed[3]
Status CIA and United States Central Command drone operations
Casualties and losses
Total killed: 4,138–10,088[4][5]
Civilians killed: 310–919[4][5]
Children killed: 73–191,[4][5] Injured: 661–1,772[5][6]

Since January 2001, multiple drone strikes have been conducted by the United States government in Afghanistan. These strikes began during the administration of the United States President George W. Bush. During the presidency of Donald Trump, it was estimated that drone strikes had multiplied at a pace of four to five times compared with previous presidency of Barack Obama.[7] In 2016, Obama ordered the CIA to publish civilian drone strike deaths outside of active warzones, an order which was revoked by Trump in 2019.[8]

By 2021, there had been a total of at least 13,074 airstrikes conducted by the US government, killing at least 4,138 people, including 310 civilians and 73 children.[4][5] Besides the US government, the Afghan Air Force (AAF) also carried out air strikes in Afghanistan. Since 1 June 2016, the AAF has conducted at least 41 strike capable operations.[9]

  1. ^ "Drone Strikes in Afghanistan – The Bureau of Investigative Journalism". Thebureauinvestigates.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  2. ^ "US faces immense obstacles to continued drone war in Afghanistan". Brookings Institution. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Drone War: Afghanistan". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "Drone War: Afghanistan — The Bureau of Investigative Journalism". Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference CNN30Aug21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Drone Strikes in Afghanistan". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. ^ Woody, Cristopher (4 April 2017). "Trump is ordering airstrikes at 5 times the pace Obama did". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Trump revokes Obama rule on reporting drone strike deaths". BBC News. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Afghanistan: Reported US air and drone strikes 2016". Thebureauinvestigates.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2018.