U.S. military dropped 751 bombs on Afghanistan in September

Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. military dropped 751 bombs on Afghanistan during the month of September, the highest number in five years, according to data recently released by U.S. Air Forces Central Command.

"This increase can be attributed to [President Donald Trump's] strategy to more proactively target extremist groups that threaten the stability and security of the Afghan people," the USAFCC said in a report.

The total number of bombs dropped on Afghanistan in September is more than 50 percent of the total for all of 2016, when 1,337 U.S. bombs were deployed.

So far this year, the U.S. has deployed 3,238 bombs in Afghanistan.

The Hill points out that the data in the USAFCC report only refers to bombs dropped by aircraft that is under the stewardship of the Combined Forces Air Component Commander, which means the total numbers for this year and past years could be different.

In August, Trump said that although he had considered pulling the U.S. military out of Afghanistan, where it has been fighting since 2001, further review made him decide the threat there was too severe for such a move at this time.

"Today, 20 U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan -- the highest concentration in any region anywhere in the world," he said.

The continued military effort in Afghanistan has led to a record number of civilian deaths this year.

During the first six months of 2017, at least 1,662 Afghan civilians were killed and more than 3,500 wounded by U.S. airstrikes, reported the New York Times.

"The human cost of this ugly war in Afghanistan -- loss of life, destruction and immense suffering -- is far too high," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the United Nations secretary general's special representative for Afghanistan.