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Al-Qaeda commander killed in US airstrike in Paktia
A US air strike in Paktia province of Afghanistan killed a senior Al-Qaeda commander in charge of suicide bombing and two other militants, the Pentagon said Friday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that the airstrike killed a senior Al-Qaida operational commander, Abu Khalil Al-Sudani on July 11.
Pentagon says Abu Khalil al-Sudani was directly linked to plotting attacks against the United States and also commanded operations against troops in Afghanistan.
“We will continue to counter violent extremism in the region and around the world, including efforts to deliver a lasting defeat to ISIL,” Mr. Carter said, in a reference to the Islamic State, the Sunni militant group that holds territory in Iraq and Syria.
The strike in Paktika was the latest in a series of U.S. counter-terrorism strikes in Afghanistan in recent weeks and also killed two other militants.
A U.S. military official in Kabul said that Al-Sudani had also been close to Osama bin Laden before his death, and had fought alongside bin Laden in the 10-year anti-Soviet war that followed the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
The official spoke on the condition that he not be identified because he was not authorized to provide the information.
“The death of al-Sudani will further degrade Al-Qaeda command-and-control operations across the globe,” he said.
Al-Sudani’s death is the latest in a string of successful US airstrikes against al-Qaeda figures in the Middle East.
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Afghan citizens reported among casualties in US, Israeli attacks, Iran says
As of now, authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have not issued an official response to the claims.
Iran’s Embassy in Kabul, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, has stated that a number of Afghan citizens were killed or injured during what Tehran described as a 35-day military campaign carried out by the United States and Israel.
According to the statement, the Afghan nationals were living in Iran at the time of the attacks. Baghaei referred to them as “honored guests” of the country, adding that some lost their lives while others sustained injuries during the reported strikes.
He did not provide specific figures regarding the number of Afghan casualties or further details about the incidents.
As of now, authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have not issued an official response to the claims.
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Save the Children: Nearly one Afghan child killed or injured daily by explosive remnants
Despite the efforts of aid organizations and demining groups, the scale of the contamination remains overwhelming.
Save the Children has issued a stark warning, revealing that nearly one Afghan child is killed or injured every day by explosive remnants of war (ERW). In its latest report, the global humanitarian organization emphasized the ongoing and deadly impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance scattered across the country, a legacy of decades of conflict.
From January 2025 to January 2026, 338 Afghan children were killed, injured, or permanently disabled by explosive remnants. Shockingly, children represented nearly 70 percent of all casualties from such explosions during this period. Save the Children’s report underscores that Afghanistan continues to have the highest number of child casualties due to explosive remnants worldwide.
The report highlights that vast swathes of Afghanistan remain contaminated with hazardous materials, with more than 2.7 million people – including many children – living within one kilometer of these dangerous zones. These hazardous areas, often located in fields, pastures, and farmlands, remain uncleared despite ongoing demining efforts. Afghanistan is now considered one of the most contaminated countries globally, with nearly 5,000 hazardous sites still awaiting clearance.
The danger is particularly acute for rural and nomadic communities, including the Kuchi, who traverse long distances in search of water and grazing lands. These communities face severe challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and protection services, further compounding the risks posed by unexploded devices.
To address the growing threat, Save the Children has launched mobile awareness programs aimed at teaching children, particularly in remote and underserved regions, how to identify and avoid explosive hazards. These programs are crucial in helping to reduce the number of child casualties, as children are often unaware of the dangers in their environment.
Despite the efforts of aid organizations and demining groups, the scale of the contamination remains overwhelming. Funding shortages continue to hamper the progress of clearance operations, leaving families and children exposed to the deadly remnants of past conflicts.
“Explosive remnants of war are not just a legacy of Afghanistan’s past; they are an ongoing humanitarian emergency that continues to claim innocent lives,” said Save the Children. “The international community must step up its support to ensure the safety of Afghan children and accelerate efforts to clear these life-threatening hazards.”
As the country struggles to recover from years of conflict, the need for comprehensive and sustained demining operations, alongside better access to education and healthcare for at-risk communities, has never been more urgent.
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Eight dead after 5.8-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan
The family members who perished included a father, mother, four daughters, and two sons. In addition to the deaths, a child was reported injured in the incident.
A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least eight people and injuring a child when a house collapsed in Kabul. According to local officials, the victims were all members of the same family.
Hafiz Basharat, spokesperson for the Kabul Governor, confirmed that the fatalities occurred in the Bagrami district of Kabul. The family members who perished included a father, mother, four daughters, and two sons. In addition to the deaths, a child was reported injured in the incident.
The earthquake, which originated in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, struck at a depth of approximately 177 kilometers, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. Tremors were felt across a wide area, including Kabul, Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, and India’s capital New Delhi.
Local authorities have yet to release additional details regarding the extent of the damage or any further casualties caused by the earthquake.
As rescue operations continue, Afghan authorities are assessing the full impact of the earthquake, which has left many concerned about the potential for more aftershocks in the region.
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