Pentagon Releases Guidance to Reduce Civilian Harm in Military Operations
The new policy, signed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, requires senior leaders to identify officials for mitigating civilian harm and includes outside information in operational planning for the first time.
- Pentagon has released official guidance to reduce harm to civilians from U.S. military operations, a year after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the overhaul.
- The guidance directs senior DOD civilian and military leaders to each identify a senior official or flag officer to lead their organization’s efforts related to mitigating civilian harm.
- The guidance also requires the Pentagon to begin developing, acquiring and fielding weapons to help reduce civilian harm, with a particular focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
- The new guidance stipulates that for the first time, DOD will include outside information during operational planning and investigations, including from the press and non-governmental organizations.
- The guidance comes amid international uproar over Israel’s use of U.S.-provided weapons to bombard Gaza, putting pressure on President Joe Biden to scale back military aid to Israel.
POLITICO 
