Civilian casualties in Afghan war jump in July

Civilian casualty rates across Afghanistan jumped back to record levels last month, following a dip earlier in the year, the UN said Saturday.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, more than 1,500 civilians were killed or wounded in the Afghan conflict in July, the highest monthly toll so far in 2019 and the worst single month since May 2017.

The increase, which was attributed largely to a rise in attacks by the Taliban and other "anti-government" groups, came amid a US-led push for a peace deal that both Washington and the Taliban say is making progress.

"As peace efforts have intensified in recent weeks so too has the conflict on the ground," UNAMA head Tadamichi Yamamoto said in a statement.

"I call on all parties not to ramp up military operations thinking that doing so will give them a stronger position in talks about peace."