Civilian Casualties (CIVCAS)
209 Articles
The Missing Kabul Drone Strike Report
"It is simply not credible that the entire investigative report must be withheld in order to protect (as one imagines the claim) sources and methods of intelligence-gathering."
Insight Into Biden’s Counterterrorism Thinking Suggests More of the Same
Rather than rebrand painfully flawed approaches, the US must heed the calls and ideas of civil society, academics, and practitioners.
Questions to Investigate U.S. Drone Strike in Kabul: An Alleged Killing of 10 Civilians
We drafted dozens of specific questions for Congress, reporters, and investigators to ask.
How US-Funded Abuses Led to Failure in Afghanistan
The primary and defining characteristic of the armed conflict in Afghanistan over the last two decades has been harm to civilians caused by massive human rights abuses and war…
Ending the Forever War, But Leaving a Legacy of Impunity in Afghanistan
The international military forces withdrawing from Afghanistan leave behind a legacy of impunity that threatens to undermine hopes for peace and justice in Afghanistan for years…
Toward a True Account of Collateral Damage in U.S. Military Operations
The Pentagon reports annually on how many civilians were killed in U.S. operations, but silent on damage to civilian homes, markets and other civilian infrastructure vital to human…
A Legacy of Unrecognized Harm: DoD’s 2020 Civilian Casualties Report
The Pentagon report appears to defy the congressional requirement to report on civilian casualties “that were confirmed, or reasonably suspected, to have resulted in civilian…
The IDF Attack on Al Jalaa Tower: Criticisms Are Correct on the Law, But Mistaken in Applying It
A response to Professor Adil Haque's influential analysis.
The IDF’s Unlawful Attack on Al Jalaa Tower
The IDF's reported view — that civilian apartments don't have to count in the legal analysis when taking such a strike — is flawed beyond repair, writes professor Adil Haque.…
The Eroding Norms Against Chemical Weapons Use Will Need More Than Another Syria Censure to Survive
A challenge inspection and an expanded mandate for a new investigations team are among options to halt the global backsliding.
Opportunity Missed: New Zealand Defense Force’s Order on Civilian Harm in Wartime
On Feb. 11, 2021, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced new rules on responding to civilian harm. Defence Force Order 35 (DFO 35) introduces NZDF-wide procedures for responding…
Kunduz Airstrike Before European Court of Human Rights: Future of Jurisdiction and Duty to Investigate
The future of European Human Rights Court's jurisdiction and the future of States' duty to investigate civilian casualties in wartime.