2017 Nangarhar airstrike facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2017 Nangarhar airstrike |
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| Part of the War in Afghanistan | |
 Achin district
Location in Afghanistan
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| Type | Airstrike, MOAB strike |
| Location | Achin District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan 34°04′24.01″N 70°37′52.37″E / 34.0733361°N 70.6312139°E |
| Commanded by | John Nicholson |
| Target | Tunnels being used by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province |
| Date | 13 April 2017 7:32 PM (UTC+04:30) |
| Executed by |   United States Air Force |
| Casualties | 96 ISIL-K militants and 3 civilians |
The 2017 Nangarhar airstrike was an American bombing in Achin District, Nangarhar Province, eastern Afghanistan. This area is close to the border with Pakistan. On April 13, 2017, the United States used its largest non-nuclear bomb, called the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB). The goal was to destroy tunnels used by a group known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP or ISIS-K).
The bomb was dropped from a United States Air Force Lockheed MC-130 aircraft. Afghan officials later reported that 96 ISIL-KP fighters, including four commanders, were killed in the attack.
Contents
Why the Airstrike Happened
The Islamic State group formed its Khorasan branch in Afghanistan in January 2015. This was the first time the group had officially spread outside the Arab world. A few days before the airstrike, a U.S. soldier was badly wounded in Nangarhar.
A spokesman for the Pentagon said the MOAB bomb had been brought to Afghanistan earlier. It was meant to strike the Islamic State stronghold in Nangarhar. This area near the Afghan–Pakistani border was hard for the U.S. military to control. Planning for the use of this bomb began during the previous U.S. government. General John Nicholson, who led U.S. forces in Afghanistan, got permission to use the MOAB.
The airstrike was part of "Operation Hamza." This was a joint effort by U.S. and Afghan forces. Their goal was to remove the Islamic State from eastern Afghanistan. Afghan soldiers had tried to enter the area for weeks but found it difficult. The terrain was tough, and militants had planted many improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The tunnels used by the Islamic State in Nangarhar Province were the target. The CIA had originally built these tunnels for other fighters in the 1980s.
The MOAB Weapon
The GBU-43/B MOAB is a very large bomb. It weighs about 9,800 kilograms (21,600 pounds). It uses GPS to guide it to its target. This bomb is the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. military. It was first tested in March 2003.
The MOAB is not designed to go deep into the ground. It is best for targets spread over a wide area. It is also effective in enclosed spaces like deep canyons or cave systems. The U.S. military has used many bombs in Afghanistan before. This weapon is used against large groups of targets on the ground.
The Airstrike Event
The bomb exploded at 7:32 PM local time. This happened in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. A local security official said they asked for a large strike. This was because smaller fighter jets and drones could not destroy the tunnel complex.
The district chief of Achin, Ismail Shinwari, said the strike was planned with Afghan soldiers. Local tribal elders were told to help civilians leave the area.
What Happened After the Strike
After the bombing, U.S. and Afghan forces checked the area. They also continued with other airstrikes. At first, reports said 36 militants were killed. This number grew as more checks were done. On April 14, a local government spokesman said 82 militants had died. The Achin District governor later said at least 92 ISIL fighters were killed. By April 15, reports stated that 94 ISIS-K militants, including 4 commanders, had died.
An Afghan army spokesman said there were no signs of civilian deaths. However, an Afghan politician from Nangarhar said locals told him a teacher and his young son were killed. On April 18, an Afghan official said 96 Islamic State militants were killed. Among them were 13 main commanders.
The Afghan defense ministry said that fighters loyal to "ISIS Khorasan Province" were among those killed. A spokesman for the president said IS commander Siddiq Yar was killed. He added that the fighters in the tunnels were active in border areas. They were also harming local people. Afghan officials confirmed that foreign militants, including 13 from India, also died. The ministry spokesman again stated no civilians were killed. However, the ISIS-supporting Amaq News Agency denied any ISIS casualties.
Some buildings in the village of Shaddle Bazar, about 1.5 miles away, were damaged by the blast. The offensive operation in the area continued after the strike. A BBC reporter confirmed this later in April 2017. An Afghan officer said there were hundreds of similar caves in the area. He also noted that trees 100 meters from the impact point were still standing.
Aftermath of the Strike
On April 27, two U.S. Special Operations soldiers were killed. They were fighting the Islamic State in the Nangarhar region. This was near where the MOAB was dropped. A third U.S. soldier was wounded in the same fight.
Reactions to the Airstrike
Afghanistan's Response
Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, said the strike helped the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). He also said steps were taken to avoid civilian casualties. Afghanistan's chief executive, Dr. Abdullah, agreed. He said the bombing was done with Afghan forces and that they "took great care to avoid civilian harm."
However, Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai criticized the attack. He said it was not a "war on terror." Instead, he called it an "inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous weapons."
The Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhilwal, shared this view. He called the airstrike "reprehensible and counterproductive." The mayor of Achin, Naweed Shinwari, also questioned the bombing. He said, "There is no doubt that ISIS are brutal... But I don't see why the bomb was dropped."
United States' Response
United States President Donald Trump did not say if he personally approved the MOAB's use. He simply stated he gave the military "total authorization." He praised the U.S. military as the best in the world. He said, "We have given them total authorization and that's what they're doing and frankly that's why they've been so successful lately."
A White House official, Sebastian Gorka, said the local commander in charge could decide to use the MOAB on his own. General John W. Nicholson Jr., who led U.S. forces in Afghanistan, explained the decision. He said ISIS-K was using IEDs, bunkers, and tunnels to defend themselves. He believed the MOAB was the right weapon to remove these obstacles. This would help keep their attack against ISIS-K going. Some politicians in the U.S. supported Trump's decision to use the MOAB.
Images for kids
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A photo of a MOAB weapon being prepared for testing at the Eglin Air Force Armament Center.
See also
In Spanish: Bombardeo de Achin para niños
