#A to Z BBC Help Terms of Use BBC Accessibility links * Skip to content * Skip to local navigation * Skip to bbc.co.uk navigation * Skip to bbc.co.uk search * Help * Accessibility Help BBC News South Asia * Home * UK * Africa * Asia * Europe * Latin America * Mid-East * US & Canada * Business * Health * Sci/Environment * Tech * Entertainment * Video 24 July 2010 Last updated at 06:48 GMT Share this page * Delicious * Digg * Facebook * reddit * StumbleUpon * Twitter * Email * Print US military curbs 'reduce' Afghan attacks in some areas US army soldier runs up to a position near Kandahar. Photo: July 2010 Some soldiers say the curbs make their jobs more dangerous Continue reading the main story Taliban Conflict * Who are the Taliban? * Pakistan on the brink * 'Taliban' villages * Haqqani militant network Attempts to reduce civilian casualties caused by US-led forces in Afghanistan have led to a decline in insurgent attacks in some areas, a report says. The document by America's National Bureau for Economic Research analysed incidents involving more than 4,000 civilian casualties in Afghanistan. The curbs on aerial bombing and mortar fire were introduced last year by the recently sacked Gen Stanley McChrystal. The general ended his army career at a ceremony in Washington on Friday. Meanwhile, military officials confirmed on Saturday that four US personnel were killed in southern Afghanistan - continuing a recent upsurge in violence there. Gen McChrystal was fired from his job as commander of multinational forces in Afghanistan by US President Barack Obama last month over a magazine interview in which he made disparaging remarks about the president and senior colleagues. In an emotional farewell speech at Fort McNair parade ground, Gen McChrystal said his service had not ended as he had hoped, but he regretted few decisions he had made on the battlefield and was optimistic about his future. Gen McChrystal, his wife Annie by his side, was given full military honours including a 17-gun salute. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates paid tribute to him, saying: "Over the past decade, arguably no single American has inflicted more fear, more loss of freedom and more loss of life on our country's most vicious and violent enemies than Stan McChrystal." Gen McChrystal's successor, Gen David Petraeus, is reportedly considering loosening the restrictions on international forces. 'Primary driver' The authors of the report by the Massachusetts-based National Bureau of Economic Research say they analysed 15 months of data on military clashes and incidents totalling more than 4,000 civilian deaths in a number of Afghan regions in the period ending on 1 April. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote When Isaf units kill civilians, this increases the number of willing combatants” End Quote National Bureau of Economic Research * Afghan bombing kills US personnel They say that in areas where two civilians were killed or injured by Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), there were on average an extra six violent incidents between insurgents and US-led troops in the following six weeks. The report concludes that civilian deaths frequently motivate villagers to join the ranks of insurgents. "In Afghanistan, when Isaf units kill civilians, this increases the number of willing combatants, leading to an increase in insurgent attacks." "Local exposure to violence from Isaf appears to be the primary driver of this effect." The curbs were imposed by Gen McChrystal in an effort to win more Afghan hearts and minds. Those rules ban air and mortar strikes on houses unless allied troops are in immediate danger. But some soldiers have complained that the restrictions make their jobs more dangerous. More on This Story Taliban Conflict * Who are the Taliban? * Pakistan on the brink * 'Taliban' villages * Haqqani militant network * Will US cut reverse gains? * Taliban tactical shift * Why target Afghan Shias? * Q&A: Fighting the Taliban * Turbulent Kandahar * Meeting Wali Karzai * Eight weeks to face the Taliban * Af-Pak border 'house without door' * Can the insurgents be defeated? Watch Key maps * Drone and militant attacks * US and Nato deployments * The militant nexus Watch/Listen * Challenges facing Kabul police Watch Related Internet links * National Bureau of Economic Research * Isaf * President of Afghanistan (official site) The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites Share this page * Delicious * Digg * Facebook * reddit * StumbleUpon * Twitter * Email * Print More South Asia stories RSS * US soldiers headed for Afghanistan 4 November 2011 US general in Afghanistan fired A US commander in Afghanistan is dismissed after making disparaging comments about Afghan President Hamid Karzai in an interview. * Karzai warning at Afghan summit * Cricket verdict 'hurts' Pakistan Top Stories * Soldiers in Free Syrian Army in Damascus (27 Jan 2012) UN action 'could spur Syria war' * Euro unemployment hits new record * Search of cruise ship abandoned * Republican rivals in Florida vote * French win India fighter jet deal Features & Analysis * Model cars and houses Golden salary What do people earning £1m ($1.5m) spend it on? ______________________________________________________________ * Planet Earth Planet mass Do rockets fired into space make the Earth lighter? ______________________________________________________________ * Occupy DC protesters shout slogans Day in pictures 24 hours of news photos from around the world ______________________________________________________________ * A foreclosure (repossession) sign in front of a house Money talks Has wealth become a liability in the US Republican race? ______________________________________________________________ Most Popular Shared 1. 1: Brits barred from US after tweet 2. 2: Skin transformed into brain cells 3. 3: Policeman who became a pole-dancer 4. 4: How 'Europe' became a dirty word in US election 5. 5: Pythons link to mammals decline Read 1. 1: Brits barred from US after tweet 2. 2: F1 driver Adrian Sutil convicted 3. 3: French win India fighter jet deal 4. 4: Navy sends destroyer to Falklands 5. 5: What do people on £1 million salaries do with their money? 6. 6: Search of cruise ship abandoned 7. 7: Pythons link to mammals decline 8. 8: Snake bursts after gobbling gator 9. 9: Is the Earth getting lighter? 10. 10: Euro unemployment hits new record Video/Audio 1. 1: Europe struggles in grip of snow Watch 2. 2: 'Shame on you Simon Cowell' Watch 3. 3: One-minute World News Watch 4. 4: Beijing's pole-dancing former policeman Watch 5. 5: One way to find a rich Russian husband Watch 6. 6: How computers help Sweden's ice sculptors Watch 7. 7: Mystery illness at US high school Watch 8. 8: Fear factor: The science behind America's red/blue divide Watch 9. 9: How to play 'kung fu' piano Watch 10. 10: Life after death faces legal battle Watch Elsewhere on BBC News * India's Tirupati Temple. 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