Civilian casualties are up 22 percent in Afghanistan

A U.N. annual report released Wednesday has revealed that 2014 marked the highest number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan in five years, with a 22 percent increase from the previous year. 2014 saw 10,548 civilian casualties, including 3,699 civilian deaths.

The report says the Taliban is responsible for 72 percent of the casualties, while 14 percent are because of government forces and foreign troops in Afghanistan.

The U.N. believes the rise in casualties is due to "intensified ground fighting," The Associated Press reports, including the use of weapons like mortars, rockets, and grenades. 2014 marks the first time since 2009 that more Afghan civilians were killed by ground fighting than by any other military tactic, AP notes.

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