US aircraft dropped 7,423 munitions in Afghanistan

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The US aircraft released 7,423 bombs and other munitions in the country in 2019, according to figures published Monday by US Air Forces Central Command, according to a Stars and Strips report.

Coalition aircraft flew nearly 8,800 sorties during the period, over a quarter of which carried out strikes.

The tally surpasses the previous record set last year when 7,362 munitions were released, and comes amid discussions between American and Taliban officials aimed at ending America’s longest war.

Airstrikes, predominantly conducted by US forces, caused 579 of the 1,149 civilian war fatalities attributed to pro-government forces in Afghanistan during the first nine months of 2019, according to the most recent United Nations data.

Insurgent groups were responsible for 1,207 civilian deaths in that time, the UN data showed. Another 207 civilian deaths were unattributed to either side.(TOLOnews)