Defense Sec. Austin directs U.S. military to step up efforts to prevent and respond to civilian casualties caused by American airstrikes, calling the protection of civilians 'a strategic and a moral imperative.'
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday directed the U.S. military to step up efforts to prevent and respond to civilian casualties caused by American airstrikes, calling the protection of civilians"a strategic and a moral imperative."
Austin issued the order after intense criticism of a U.S. airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 29. The drone strike, meant to target terrorists,A funeral on Aug. 30 for the civilians killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul."We now assess it is unlikely that the vehicle and those who died were associated with ISIS-K," Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, said in September, referring to the Islamic State terrorist groups' affiliate in Afghanistan.
"Civilian casualties were alleged to have occurred, the military indeed attacked the alleged location, and available military information neither confirmed nor ruled out civilian casualties. Thus, these cases were determined to be not credible."