Pentagon Takes Steps to Limit Civilian Casualties After Botched Airstrike in Kabul

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pauses while speaking during a media briefing at the Pentagon, in Washington, on Nov. 17, 2021. Alex Brandon/AP Photo

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Department of Defense to develop an action plan to improve how it can prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian casualties caused by U.S. airstrikes.

In a two-page directive (pdf), Austin asked top civilian and military officials to provide him within 90 days a “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan.”