Tuesday, July 1, 2008

War intensifies

From the Guardian:

UN figures reveal 62% rise in Afghan civilian deaths

June 30 - The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan has risen by almost two-thirds in the first half of the year compared with 2007, UN figures showed today.

The figures, which reveal that almost 700 civilians have died, show that the instability and violence afflicting the country are taking an increasing toll on ordinary Afghans...

The UN figures show that 698 civilians died as a result of violence in the first half of the year, compared with 430 in the first six months of 2007 – a rise of 62%.

Militant fighters caused 422, or 60%, of the recorded civilian casualties, while government or foreign troops killed 255 people, the UN said. The causes of 21 other deaths were unclear... (link)
From the BBC:
Foreign forces' worst Afghan toll

July 1 - The month of June has been the deadliest for foreign troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 fall of the Taleban, official figures show.

Correspondents say it was also the second month in a row in which casualties exceeded those in Iraq.

Military statements throughout June show that at least 45 foreign troops died as a result of war or accidents...

More than 40% of the 122 foreign soldiers who have died in Afghanistan during 2008 were killed in June, according to official figures collated by the independent website icasualties.org.

Most were killed by roadside bombs hitting their convoys or patrols...

The icasualties website says that 31 soldiers - including 29 Americans - were killed in Iraq in June although there are twice as many troops there as in Afghanistan... (link)
And from Barnett Rubin's blog:
The chart shows attacks in Afghanistan by Taliban or Anti-Government Elements last year (blue) and this year to date (red).

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