According to a new UN report, the number of civilian casualties for the first six months of 2010 was 1,271 deaths, up from 1,013 deaths in the first six months of 2009.  (A recent Afghan human rights agency report put the total number of civilians killed between January and July at 1,325). The percentage of civilian deaths caused by U.S.-led forces fell from previous years, largely due to restrictions placed on U.S. and NATO forces’ use of heavy weapons and air strikes when civilians are present.  Gen. David Petraeus has recently revised and largely maintained these rules, but is moving away from a strict protection of civilians.

Read more:  “Afghan civilian death toll jumps 31 per cent due to insurgent attacks – UN”, UN News Centre, 10 August 2010

“UN: Afghan civilian deaths rise sharply”, CTV News, 10 August 2010

Photo credit: isafmedia