75 foreign troops fell in 2014

KABUL, the least fatalities after 2004 the military alliance had suffered ever during its 13-year combat mission.

However, casualties among Afghan forces drastically soared this year, when nearly 5,000 Afghan soldiers fell, compared to 2,767 deaths in 2013.

In 2004, only 60 foreign soldiers were killed and after that year, casualties among foreign troops continued to surge.

According to iCasualties.org that tracks fatalities of foreign forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, the number of foreign forces lost in Afghanistan in 2014 was 75.

Among those killed were 50 Americans, six British and the rest from other troops contributing nations. The website also shares information about soldiers who succumb to injuries in hospitals.

In 2014, at least 12 foreign soldiers were killed in February and June, making the months deadliest for ISAF. In contrast, March, November and October saw few fatalities suffered by the coalition.

American forces’ media office in Kabul told Pajhwok Afghan News it had no exact figures for casualties but offered to check the website for information.

Sources said foreign troops suffered fewer casualties in 2014 because they transferred security responsibilities to Afghan forces in most parts of the country.

The iCasualties.org lists 3,475 deaths among foreign soldiers, with nearly 30,000 others wounded during the 13-year war.

Southern Helmand was the most violent province for foreign forces, where 952 soldiers had been killed followed by Kandahar with 555 deaths.

Kabul stood third in that line where 183 personnel lost their lives to violence of different nature.

However, Badakhshan, Sar-i-Pul and Daikundi were provinces where no foreign soldiers had been killed during the past 13 years.

Soldiers from 51 countries took part in the US-led military mission. Most casualties suffered by Americans — 2,356 deaths. The UK lost 453 soldiers followed by Canada with 158. France lost 86 soldiers and Germany 54.

mds/rm/ma

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