Released on Sunday, a new report from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan says 1,692 civilians were killed across Afghanistan in the first six months of 2018. This is the highest death toll for a half year since the UN started keeping track.
Interestingly, the same report showed a slight decline in overall casualties among Afghan civilians over the same period. This suggests the attacks are deadlier but leaving fewer survivors overall.
It is particularly noteworthy that this half year set a new record, as it came with a multi-day ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr in June, during which fighting nationwide ground to a virtual halt.
This increase in deaths is seen as being driven at least in part by a substantial rise in suicide attacks. That included some very large scale attacks attributed to ISIS. The UN found over half of the casualties from suicide attacks were from ISIS-launched attacks, underscoring that group’s growing influence in the country.
No surprise. The new NATO commander in Afghanistan has vowed that every Taliban will be killed. NATO is daily dropping more explosives in Afghanistan than ever. Bombs indiscriminately kill Taliban and civilians Why does JD not know this? Suicide attacks my foot.
The trump administration’s gag order (like his required non disclosures for employees and wives) would make accurate reporting difficult. The Islamophobes love hearing about suicide bombings tho. But, who knows where these bombs really come from, if I had to bet, I would bet Eric Prince.
The contrast in articles here is astounding. You go from reading about the peace president saving the world while his alter ego continues the rampage elsewhere.