The following report is updated on Thursdays and compiles all significant security incidents confirmed by New York Times reporters throughout Afghanistan for the month. It is necessarily incomplete as many local officials refuse to confirm casualty information. The report includes government claims of insurgent casualty figures, but in most cases these cannot be independently verified by The Times. Similarly, the reports do not include Taliban claims for their attacks on the government unless they can be verified. Both sides routinely inflate casualty totals for their opponents.
Analysis in previous reports refers to “pro-government forces” in order to include casualties for U.S. and coalition forces. Since the U.S. withdrawal began, The Times stopped using this phrasing. It will continue to identify militias aligned with the security forces as “pro-government” to differentiate them from independent militias operating in Afghanistan.
Aug. 1-5, 2021 At least 115 Afghan security forces and 58 civilians were killed in the first five days of August. In a serious escalation of their campaign, the Taliban have laid siege in recent weeks to several provincial capitals after sweeping through much of the country’s rural areas. The insurgents now control more than half of the country’s 400-odd districts, according to some assessments.
The deadliest incident so far in August occurred in Nimruz Province, where the Taliban attacked Kang district, killing 30 security forces and overrunning the district. The police chief and six other security forces surrendered to the Taliban, but the group shot them to death. In Helmand Province, 20 civilians were killed and 189 others were wounded in crossfire between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, over the last several days. The victims were transferred to Boost Hospital from around the city.
[Read the Afghan War Casualty Report from previous weeks.]
Aug. 5 Kandahar Province: two civilians and one security force killed
Two civilians and one security force member were killed and 20 civilians and two security forces were wounded in clashes between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces in Kandahar city, the provincial capital. Victims were transferred to Mirwais regional Hospital from across the city.
Aug. 5 Nimruz Province: 30 security forces killed
The Taliban attacked Kang district, killing 30 security forces, and overran the district. The police chief and six other security forces surrendered to the Taliban, but the group shot them to death. The district fell to the Taliban.
Aug. 5 Herat Province: one militia member killed
A pro-government militia commander was wounded in a clash with the Taliban in the Seventh Police District of Herat city, the provincial capital. He was admitted to the hospital where he died.
Aug. 5 Herat Province: one police officer killed
One police officer was killed in a clash between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces in the 15th Police District of Herat city, the provincial capital.
Aug. 5 Balkh Province: one civilian killed
A magnetic bomb attached to a bicycle exploded in Fourth Police District of Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, killing one civilian and wounding 12 people, including a police officer.
Aug. 5 Jowzjan Province: four militia members and one civilian killed
The Taliban attacked the Second Police District of Sheberghan, the provincial capital, killing four pro-government militia members, including a commander, and a civilian woman. The fighting continued for hours as the Taliban advanced into the city, but they were eventually pushed back.
Aug. 5 Sar-i-Pul Province: three militia members killed
Three pro-government militia members were killed and eight more wounded in a Taliban attack on security outposts in Sar-i-Pul city, the provincial capital. The Afghan Air Force carried out an airstrike to slow down the Taliban advance.
Aug. 5 Uruzgan Province: one civilian killed
Abdullah Attifi, an Afghan poet and writer, was abducted from his home, and then shot and killed in Chorai district. The Afghan government blamed the Taliban for the attack, but a spokesman denied responsibility in a tweet. A Taliban spokesman also denied the group’s involvement in a comment to The New York Times.
Aug. 4 Parwan Province: one police officer killed
A female officer was shot dead by unknown armed men in Jabal-us-Siraj district where she was working on her farm. She was serving in Bagram district. The attackers managed to flee the area.
Aug. 4 Herat Province: three police officers killed
In clashes between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces in Herat city, the provincial capital, three police officers, including the commander of the Tenth Police District, were killed. The fighting has been underway for several days, but an airstrike carried out by the Afghan air force has slowed down the Taliban’s offensive. Thousands of families in and around the provincial capital have been displaced by the fighting.
Aug. 4 Herat Province: two soldiers killed
In a Taliban attack on Salma Dam in Chisht-i-Sharif district, two commandos were killed and two commandos and five police officers were wounded. The fighting lasted for two hours, but the Taliban were pushed back from the area.
Aug. 4 Herat Province: six security forces killed
Four soldiers and two pro-government militia members were killed and four police officers were wounded during clashes between the Taliban and Afghan forces in Guzara district outside the provincial capital. The fighting continues near the Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport.
Aug. 4 Takhar Province: one police officer killed
The police chief of Baharak district was killed in a Taliban attack in the First Police District of Taliqan, the provincial capital. Taliqan has been under siege for about two months and the fighting continues. Apart from the provincial capital, all districts in Takhar are currently under control of the Taliban, according to The Times’ assessment.
Aug. 4 Baghlan Province: eight militia members killed
Eight pro-government militia members were killed and seven others were wounded when the Taliban attacked security outposts and checkpoints in Khost district. Most of the district is controlled by the Taliban, but local militias are still holding some villages. The fighting lasted for a few hours, but the Taliban were pushed back.
Aug. 3 Kapisa Province: one police officer killed
A police officer was shot and killed in Second Police District of Mahmood Raqi, the provincial capital, where he was patrolling. The attackers fled the area. Provincial officials blamed the Taliban for the attack, but the group hasn’t commented yet.
Aug. 3 Balkh Province: one civilian killed
A 21-year-old girl was executed by the Taliban in Balkh district. She was prosecuted because of traveling without a male escort and for wearing a short dress. The group hasn’t claimed responsibility for it yet.
Aug. 3 Herat Province: five security forces killed
Three soldiers and two pro-government militias were killed and four pro-government militia members were wounded in clashes between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces on the outskirts of Herat city.
Aug. 3 Takhar Province: six security forces killed
The Taliban attacked security forces in Taliqan, killing two commandos, two police officers and two pro-government militia members. The Taliban have advanced on the eastern and northwestern parts of the city.
Aug. 3 Sar-i-Pul Province: three security forces killed
A commando and two pro-government militia members were killed and four more wounded in a Taliban attack on the First Police District of Sar-i-Pul city. The fighting lasted for hours, but the Taliban retreated from the area.
Aug. 3 Jowzjan Province: three militia members killed
The Taliban attacked security outposts and checkpoints in Sheberghan, killing three pro-government militia members and wounding three others. The fighting continued across the city, but the Afghan security forces were trying to push the Taliban back.
Aug. 3 Herat Province: two security forces killed
Two security forces were killed and 13 others, including two civilians, were wounded in crossfire between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces in Herat city. The Taliban kept advancing on the provincial capital, but several strikes were carried out to slow down their movements.
Aug. 3 Ghazni Province: one militia member killed
Afghan security forces carried out an attack on Taliban positions in Jaghori district. During the assault, a pro-government militia commander was killed and two more wounded. District officials said five Taliban fighters were also killed.
Aug. 3 Kabul Province: eight civilians killed
The Taliban claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack on the home of a top military official in Kabul city, the capital, that killed eight people, highlighting the insurgents’ ability to strike in the heart of the Afghan capital as they continue their sweeping military campaign. The raid began around 8 p.m. on Tuesday with a car bomb that detonated outside the home of Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, the acting defense minister. For several hours afterward, other blasts and sporadic gunfire could be heard in the center of the city after gunmen stormed the building and security forces fought to rescue the roughly 80 people trapped inside. Twenty civilians were wounded in the car bomb blast.
Aug. 3 Kabul Province: one civilian killed
Amir Mohammad Malikzai, the governor of Wardak’s Sayedabad district, was assassinated by unknown gunmen in the Fifth Police District of Kabul city. The attackers fled the area, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Kabul police officials said an investigation was underway.
Aug. 3 Badghis Province: four civilians killed
A woman was killed by the Taliban in the Khawja-Duborar area of Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital, while she was traveling from the village to the city without a male relative. Meanwhile, security forces discovered three bodies of young men in the city. Local officials said they believe the Taliban killed them, but the group hasn’t taken responsibility for the incident. A Taliban spokesman did not respond to The Times’ request for comment.
Aug. 3 Helmand Province: 20 civilians killed
Twenty civilians were killed and 189 others were wounded in crossfire between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, over the last several days. The victims were transferred to Boost Hospital from around the city.
Aug. 3 Herat Province: five security forces killed
The Taliban attacked Salma Dam in Chisht-i-Sharif, killing five security forces and wounding three soldiers and two police officers. The fighting continued for hours. The Taliban have attempted to capture Salma Dam several times and so far have failed.
Aug. 2 Parwan Province: four soldiers killed
The Taliban attacked security outposts in Charikar, the provincial capital, killing four soldiers, but the Taliban were pushed back.
Aug. 2 Herat Province: three civilians killed
Three civilians were killed and 31 civilians and three security forces were wounded in a crossfire between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in Herat city. All victims were transferred to Herat Regional Hospital.
Aug. 2 Kapisa Province: two soldiers killed
Two commandos were killed when the Afghan security forces carried out an operation to recapture Nijrab district. The district center was cleared of Taliban fighters, but the fighting continued in some villages.
Aug. 2 Herat Province: three civilians killed
Three civilians, including two women, were killed and 10 more wounded when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in the 12th Police District of Herat city.
Aug. 2 Kandahar Province: three security forces killed
Three security forces were killed and 18 civilians, including women and children, were wounded in crossfire between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban in Kandahar city, the provincial capital. All victims were transferred to Mirwais Regional Hospital.
Aug. 1 Kandahar Province: three security forces killed
Three security forces were killed and 10 civilians were wounded in clashes between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban in Kandahar city.
Aug. 1 Herat Province: two militia members killed
Two pro-government militia members were killed and three others were wounded in a Taliban attack on security forces in Herat city, near the police headquarters.
Aug. 1 Herat Province: three security forces and two civilians killed
Three security forces and two civilians were killed and 27 security forces and four civilians were wounded in clashes between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban on the outskirts of Herat city, and in Injil district.
Aug. 1 Kabul Province: one civilian killed
A religious scholar was assassinated by armed men in Deh Sabz district while going to the mosque for evening prayer. The attackers managed to escape the area, but the next morning, three people linked to the incident were arrested by the police.
Aug. 1 Wardak Province: six police officers killed
The Taliban attacked security outposts and checkpoints in Maidan Shar, the provincial capital, killing six police officers. The fighting lasted for hours and one outpost fell to the Taliban.
Aug. 1 Ghazni Province: one civilian killed
The rocket hit a farm in Jaghori district, killing a farmer who was watering his field. District officials said that the rocket was fired by the Taliban to target the Afghan security forces, but the group hasn’t commented on it.
Aug. 1 Kabul Province: one police officer killed
Abdul Qader Ahmadzai, the head of Paktia’s prison, was shot and killed in the 12th Police District of Kabul city. The attackers fled the area. Security officials said the Taliban were behind the attack, but the group hasn’t taken responsibility.
Aug. 1 Kabul Province: two civilians and one police officer killed
Gunmen attacked a police vehicle in the Fifth Police District of Kabul city, killing one police officer and two civilians and wounding one police officer and two civilians. The attackers managed to escape the area, but an investigation is underway.
Reporting was contributed by Asadullah Timory from Herat, Farooq Jan Mangal from Khost Taimoor Shah from Kandahar and Najim Rahim and Sharif Hassan from Kabul.