Civilian Casualties (CIVCAS)

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209 Articles
A Yemeni man looks at graffiti protesting against US drone strikes on September 19, 2018 in Sana'a, Yemen.

What I Told Congress about U.S. Lethal Strikes

Congress should take steps to end America’s war-based approach to counterterrorism policy.
An overhead view of the Pentagon building in Washington, DC.

Clear Error in the Defense Department’s Law of War Manual: On Presumptions of Civilian Status

This article is the first in a new project at Just Security that assesses the U.S. Department of Defense’s Law of War Manual with a goal of providing constructive opportunities…
S. Army (retired) General Lloyd Austin looks forward after being formally nominated to be Secretary of the Department of Defense by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden at the Queen Theatre on Dec. 9, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware.

A Big Step Forward or Running in Place?: The Pentagon’s New Policy on Civilian Casualties

New Pentagon effort to respond to civilian harm is encouraging, but DOD needs to demonstrate leadership, scope the problem correctly, and address the growing credibility gap to…
A gray, black, and white aerial image of two compounds surrounded by trees. One building is in the middle of green crosshairs from US video camera.

The Al-Qurayshi Operation and Minimization of Civilian Casualties

US officials’ emphasis on minimization of civilian casualties in an operation against such a high value target deserves special attention.
An MQ-9 Reaper (ie. a drone) sits in a hangar during a sandstorm at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Sept. 15, 2008.

Civilian Casualties in U.S. Air Wars: A Wake-up Call for Canada and its Future Use of Armed Drones?

Last month’s New York Times report that the American air wars in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan have been plagued by flawed intelligence, poor targeting, and thousands of civilian…
Clouds pass over the Capitol Dome as the Senate resumes debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)(Photo by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images).

Amid Civilian Harm Revelations, Defense Bill Takes Measured Steps on Oversight and Accountability

Recent months have seen a flood of revelations concerning civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations. The last U.S. airstrike of the war in Afghanistan, which killed…
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - AUGUST 30: U.S. Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby speaks at a press briefing (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images).

America Needs a War on Terror Transparency Act

The Pentagon has three months to investigate the disturbing New York Times report that the military conducted and covered up airstrikes in Baghuz, Syria that killed up to 64 civilians.…
Standing at a podium with the seal of the Pentagon behind him. Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby speaks during a press briefing on September 3, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia.

Tragic Mistakes: Breaking the Military Culture of Impunity

How framing civilian harm in U.S. military operations -- as a “tragic mistake” -- hides the systemic failure that requires institutional reform.
Large buildings housing the Centcom facility in Florida with pine trees in front.

Centcom’s Full Statement on Baghuz Strike: Annotated

Our co-editor-in-chief identifies and annotates the 20 most significant elements of Centcom's statement.
Smoke billows after shelling on the Islamic State group's last holdout of Baghouz, in the eastern Syrian Deir Ezzor province on March 3, 2019. (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Questions on the Baghuz Strikes

A list of specific questions for members of Congress, reporters, and investigators to ask about the strike. 

Reexamining the Fundamentals of the Drone Program After the Kabul Strike

"There are certainly unique circumstances to the Kabul strike, but if we miss the bigger lessons, we only invite further tragedy. "
Partially burnt footwear are pictured amid the debris of the house of Ezmarai Ahmadi that was damaged in a US drone strike in the Kwaja Burga neighbourhood of Kabul on September 18, 2021.

Hidden Negligence: Aug. 29 Drone Strike is Just the Tip of the Iceberg

A deep analysis of the broader system in which the August 29 Kabul drone strike is situated, by top expert on civilian casualties and lead author of several Department of Defense…
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