Thursday, December 15, 2016

Pentagon updates war manual to better protect civilians

Pentagon updates war manual to better protect civilians: The US Defense Department on Tuesday released an updated version of its military war rules that now includes extra language aimed at reducing civilian casualties.

The revised Law of War Manual gives examples of precautions the US military should take to avoid civilian deaths, such as providing warnings and conducting detailed assessments of potential casualties.

"Protecting civilians in armed conflict is critical, and it's important that our legal guidance is clear and practical," Pentagon General Counsel Jennifer O'Connor said in a statement.

"This version of the manual provides greater clarity and also reflects important developments such as the president's recent executive order on civilian casualties."