The following report compiles all significant security incidents confirmed by New York Times reporters throughout Afghanistan from the past seven days. It is necessarily incomplete as many local officials refuse to confirm casualty information. The report includes government claims of insurgent casualty figures, but in most cases these cannot be independently verified by The Times. Similarly, the reports do not include Taliban claims for their attacks on the government unless they can be verified. Both sides routinely inflate casualty totals for their opponents.

At least 80 pro-government forces and 29 civilians were killed in Afghanistan during the past week. The deadliest attack took place in Badghis Province, where the Taliban overran two outposts shared by the army, the police and the National Directorate of Security in Bala Murghab District, killing at least 20 soldiers and five police officers. In Paktika Province, hundreds of Taliban fighters attacked several security outposts in Mata Khan and Zurmat districts killing 13 police officers. In Ghazni Province, seven children were killed and two others were wounded after one of them stepped on a bomb planted by the Taliban in Moqor District.

[Read the Afghan War Casualty Report from previous weeks.]

May 16 Helmand Province: eight police officers killed

The Taliban attacked a police outpost in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital. Ground forces called for air support, which bombed the police outpost, killing eight police officers and wounding 11 others. A battalion commander was among those killed. Local authorities claimed that Taliban fighters also suffered casualties.

May 16 Zabul Province: three police officers killed

The Taliban attacked security outposts in the area of Suri in Shinky District, killing three police officers, including Qais Ahmad Helmandwal, a battalion commander, and wounding two officers. Local authorities claimed that seven Taliban fighters were killed and 11 others were wounded in the attack. The attack was eventually repelled by security forces.