IED attacks reach record level in 2011

1/26/2012

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been one of the most pervasive dangers to soldiers in Afghanistan throughout the duration of the war, and 2011 was officially the worst year on record. There were more than 16,000 IED attacks last year marking a 9 percent increase over 2010, USA Today reports.

The rise in attacks using homemade explosives has also correlated to a spike in civilian casualties. Though certainly not ideal, there could be a silver lining. The undisciplined use of IEDs could be indicative of the fact that the Afghan insurgency leadership is faltering since they were told not to target civilians.

"If insurgencies are about winning the support - or at least the acquiescence - of the local population, this is a concerning trend for the Taliban," Seth Jones, an expert on Afghanistan, told the publication.

The frequency of IED attacks has also been responsible for the  high number of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the Armed Forces. According to Inter Press Service, around 229,000 troops have suffered some form of TBI since October 2001.