The US escalated its presence, ending the year with over 48,000 troops in Afghanistan.
Violence and the civilian death toll also increased throughout 2008:
A suicide bomb killed more than 100 people outside Kandahar.
Another suicide attack against the Indian embassy in Kabul killed 58 and injures 141.
US air raids in Herat killed approximately 90 civilians, including 60 children, according to reports. Two separate incidents also drew criticism after killing a combined total approximating 150 civilians.
2008 also saw the first insider attack by Afghan security personnel against their coalition trainers. Called "green-on-blue" attacks, this new phenomenon plagued coalition forces for the remainder of the war.