Afghan civilian death toll continues to rise with airstrikes killing 21

Afghan civilian death toll continues to rise with airstrikes killing 21
At least 21 civilians were killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan over the weekend.
1 min read
26 September, 2018
Afghanistan's civilian death toll continues to rise [Getty]


At least 21 civilians were killed in two separate airstrikes in Afghanistan over the weekend, according to a statement by the UN on Wednesday.

Nine civilians were killed, mostly women and children, in an airstrike in the northeastern Kapisa province, where Afghan forces are battling the Taliban.

Twelve women and children from the same family were killed in another airstrike on Sunday in eastern Maian Wardak province, according to the "preliminary findings".

The UN says it is unclear whether the airstrikes were carried out by Afghan or NATO forces, while the Kabul government has not commented on the reports.

Civilian killings have spiked in recent months, with the Islamic State group and Taliban targeting targets in towns and cities across Afghanistan.

Eight children, including four siblings, were killed in Afghanistan when a mortar shell they were playing with exploded, relatives said on Saturday.

Analysts have warned that the war in Afghanistan could overtake Syria as the deadliest conflict in the world this year.

Graeme Smith, a consultant for the International Crisis Group, told AFP some indications "suggest the Afghan war is on track to inflict more than 20,000 battle deaths in 2018" - including civilians and combatants.