Images of Afghan War Removed From Public Platform to Protect US Allies

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 3, 2021. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The U.S. Department of Defense has moved to conceal the identities of Afghan citizens, and their family members, who aided the United States during the 20 years of war in Afghanistan that cost more than 172,000 lives.

A Pentagon official said the department had removed images and videos, taken during the U.S. military occupation, from a publicly accessible platform.