Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020

The following report compiles all significant security incidents confirmed by New York Times reporters throughout Afghanistan for past seven days.

Dec. 27, 2019-Jan. 2, 2020

 

At least 109 pro-government forces and 11 civilians were killed in Afghanistan during the past week. The deadliest attack took place in the Khowaja Bahauddin District in Takhar Province, where a Taliban red unit attacked a security outpost and killed 17 pro-government militia members. A day earlier, another 16 Afghan soldiers were killed in Helmand Province after insurgents planted explosives beneath an Army checkpoint in Sangin District.

 

Jan. 2 Helmand Province: one civilian killed

 

A radio station technician was killed in the Second Police District of Lashkar Gah, where officials found his body and discovered he had been tortured and shot several times. An official investigation is underway.

 

Jan. 2 Baghlan Province: five local police officers killed

 

The Taliban attacked a security outpost in Baghlan-e-Markazi District, killing five local police officers and wounding two others.

 

Jan. 2 Herat Province: one police officer killed

 

The Taliban shot and killed one police officer in the Saq-dan village of Ghoryan District. The attackers managed to escape from the scene.

 

Jan. 1 Balkh Province: nine police officers killed

 

The Taliban attacked a security outpost on the Balkh-Jowzjan highway, leaving nine police officers dead before blocking the highway and capturing the nearby villages of Baba Yousit, AlamKhil and Boka.

 

Jan. 1 Faryab Province: five security forces killed

 

The Taliban attacked the center of Belcheragh District, killing two commandos, one police officer and one member of the territorial army. Two other commandos were wounded in the clash.

 

Jan. 1 Kunduz Province: 14 security forces killed

 

The Taliban attacked security outposts in Dasht-e-Archi District, killing 14 security forces, including 10 members of the National Directorate of Security, two soldiers and two local police officers. An additional two security forces were wounded and three outposts fell to Taliban control.

 

Dec. 31 Kunduz Province: one traffic police officer killed

 

A traffic police officer was killed by unknown gunmen in the Third Police District of Kunduz City.

Dec. 31 Takhar Province: seven security forces killed

 

The Taliban ambushed a convoy of security forces in the Qara Tapa village of Darqad District, killing seven security forces, including four local police officers and three soldiers, and wounding six others.

 

Dec. 31 Faryab Province: four police officers killed

 

The Taliban attacked a security outpost in the center of Gorziwan District, killing four police officers and wounding five others.

 

Dec. 31 Balkh Province: one civilian killed

 

An unknown gunman killed a woman in the Konjak village of Koshenda District. The district is currently under Taliban control, and officials suspect the insurgent group is responsible for the murder.

 

Dec. 31 Herat Province: one civilian killed

 

One civilian was killed and another was injured when while traveling from Herat City a roadside bomb detonated in Golran District.

 

Dec. 31 Herat Province: one N.D.S. officer killed

 

The Taliban attacked a government vehicle in the Qala-e-Rig village of Zendah Jan District, killing one N.D.S. officer and wounding two others.

 

Dec. 30 Helmand Province: four civilians killed

 

Four civilians, including two women and a child, were killed when a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban detonated in the Sarkhod area of Nawa District.

 

Dec. 30 Faryab Province: two civilians killed

 

Two children were killed when a bomb went off while they were playing in Qwzil Qishlaq village of Khwaja Sabz Posh District.

Dec. 30 Jowzjan Province: 14 security forces killed

 

Fourteen security forces, including N.D.S officers, pro-government militia members and police officers, were killed in a clash between the Taliban and Afghan forces in the Hairdar Abad outpost in Faizabad District.

 

Dec. 29 Badghis Province: two border police killed

 

Two border police officers on patrol were killed by a roadside bomb in the Sang-e-Atash area of Moqor District.

 

Dec. 29 Sar-i-Pul Province: two soldiers killed

 

The Taliban attacked a military base in the Balghali area of Sar-i-Pul City, the provincial capital, where a roadside bomb hit a Humvee, killing two Afghan soldiers and wounding three others.

 

Dec. 29 Takhar Province: 17 pro-government militia members killed

 

A Taliban red unit attacked a security outpost in the Lalah Gozar area of Khowaja Bahauddin District, killing 17 pro-government militia members and wounding four others. The insurgents were eventually pushed back.

 

Dec. 28 Faryab Province: two pro-government militia members killed

 

The Taliban attacked the center of Almar District, killing two pro-government militia members and wounding one other.

 

Dec. 28 Sar-i-Pul Province: one local police officer killed

 

The Taliban attacked a local police outpost on the Sar-i-Pul Jowzjan highway, killing one local officer.

 

Dec. 28 Baghlan Province: four soldiers killed

 

The Taliban attacked Charshanba Tepa security outpost on Baghlan-Kunduz Highway, killing four soldiers and taking three others hostage. The insurgents then overran the outpost.

Dec. 28 Helmand Province: 16 soldiers killed

 

The Taliban planted explosives under an army checkpoint in Sangin District. Sixteen soldiers were killed in the subsequent explosion while four managed to escape.

 

Dec. 27 Samangan Province: one N.D.S. officer killed

 

A convoy of Afghan forces was ambushed by the Taliban in Dara-e-Suf Payan District. One N.D.S. officer was killed, while three others were wounded.

 

Dec. 27 Badakhshan Province: one commando killed

 

A Humvee of Afghan commandos who were preparing for an operation against the Taliban was hit by a roadside bomb in Nusai District, killing one and wounding three others.

 

Dec. 27 Jowzjan Province: two soldiers killed

 

A Humvee of Afghan soldiers was hit by a roadside bomb in Faizabad District, killing two soldiers and wounding two others.

 

Dec. 27 Helmand Province: one civilian killed

 

A man was shot and killed by the Taliban in Washir District.

 

Dec. 27 Helmand Province: one civilian killed

 

A woman was killed and one police officer was injured when a bomb attached to a police vehicle exploded in Nawa District.