Overview

• 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.