Kabul, November 5 (RHC)-- An unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the US military has reportedly crashed in a remote mountainous area of Afghanistan’s Kabul Province. A senior official from Afghan Interior Ministry told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the drone went down in mountains south of the capital, Kabul, on Wednesday evening. The official noted that no casualties were caused by the crash.

The U.S.-led military alliance says investigations are underway, without explaining the cause of the incident. The U.S. has been conducting drone operations in Afghanistan since it invaded the country in 2001. The air war has sharply intensified, with at least 80 US drone strikes hitting the country in October alone.

The United States regularly uses drones for airstrikes and spying missions in Afghanistan, as well as in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt near the Afghan border, among other places.

Washington claims that the airstrikes target militants, but local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks. The United Nations also says the U.S. drone attacks are “targeted killings” that flout international law.

The recent crash comes as Taliban militants have increased violence against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, targeting NATO helicopters and drones over the past months.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan 14 years ago as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed Taliban from power, but insecurity still remains across the country.