The United Nations has reported that 923 children in Afghanistan were killed last year, a 25% increase from 2015 and the most since the U.N. began keeping track seven years ago. The last year saw a rise in fighting in populated areas, increased attacks by Islamic State militants, more airstrikes and greater civilian exposure to land mines. The U.N. counted 209 people killed and 690 injured in attacks attributed to Islamic State supporters, a tenfold increase from the previous year. In response to the widening threat from Islamic State, as well as the Taliban, then-President Obama expanded the U.S. military’s authority to conduct airstrikes in Afghanistan. Since 2009, fighting in Afghanistan has killed 24,841 civilians and injured 45,347 others, the report said.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 06, 2017 12:50 UTC