Civilian casualties in Afghanistan reached record level highs in the first half of 2021, with a major spike in May, a United Nations report says.
The report comes as the Biden administration nears the end of its withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, and as the Taliban makes stunning advances on rural provinces in the war-torn country.
Anti-government forces were responsible for 64% of civilian casualties, according to the report. This includes 39% of casualties that were attributed to the Taliban, 9% attributed to the Islamic State and 16% attributed to undetermined, non-state actors. The main cause of civilian casualties was improvised explosive devices by opposition forces, followed by ground engagements between parties, targeted killings by non-state groups and airstrikes by the Afghan Air Force, according to the report."Stop the Afghan-against-Afghan fighting. Protect the Afghan people and give them hope for a better future," she said in the statement.of approximately 3,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, effectively ending America's longest war.