INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
![us-army-2](https://defenceredefined.com.cy/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/us-army-2.jpg)
The US military admitted responsibility for the deaths of 23 civilians in 2020, most of them in its operations in Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon’s report released yesterday. This number, however, is far smaller than the estimates of various NGOs.
“The Department of Defence estimates that 23 civilians were killed and another 10 wounded in 2020 in US military operations,” said the annual report submitted to Congress since 2018, part of which is classified as top secret.
Most of the victims were killed in Afghanistan, where the US Pentagon has acknowledged responsibility for twenty deaths, according to the public section of the report. One civilian was killed in Somalia in February 2020 and another in Iraq in March. The section of the report that was made public does not specify where or when the 23rd victim was killed.
The Pentagon also revised its 2017 and 2019 tolls, admitting additional 65 deaths and 22 injuries, mainly in Syria and Yemen.
The report also notes that although Congress provided a $ 3 million budget for the Pentagon to provide compensation – called ‘ex gratia’ in the report – to the families of civilians killed in US military operations, no such compensation has been given.
NGOs regularly publish much heavier tolls of US operations, mostly airstrikes, in war theaters.
The NGO Airwars, which records civilian casualties in airstrikes around the world, says the most conservative estimates show that 102 civilians were killed in US operations worldwide in 2020 – almost five times as many as the Pentagon admits.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has counted 89 dead and 31 wounded in US-led coalition operations, Airwars explains. In Somalia, where the Pentagon admits only one civilian death, Airwars and other NGOs estimate that at least seven people were killed, while in Syria and Iraq local sources put the death toll at at least six, it added.
To the strong American human rights organization ACLU, “the reports of the Department of Defence and the recognition of its responsibility for the deaths of civilians continue to be terribly inadequate.”
“It is astonishing that in 2020 the Department of Defence did not propose or grant any compensation to the families of civilians affected despite the availability of funds from Congress,” said ACLU chief executive China Samsi.
Also read: France | “US spying on Europeans with Denmark help turns out to be very serious”
Source: ANA MPA
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
Freddy Beleris | Ιn jail until October
The elected mayor of Heimarra and Member of the European Parliament of New Democracy will remain in prison until October…
Ukraine | Satellite images depict destruction of Russian drone base
Ukraine claims that satellite images show the destruction of a Russian warehouse used to launch Iranian-made drones and train cadets.
EU | Accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova officially kick off Tuesday
EU Finance Ministers meeting in Luxembourg formally approved the framework for negotiations with the two candidate countries…
EUROSATORY 2024 | Missile Artillery Solutions from MBDA
With such a large number of interested attendees at MBDA’s pavilion at the Eurosatory 2024 Defence exhibition, the stand reminded of an…
KNDS | Showcases full range of LEOPARD battle tanks at EUROSATORY
KNDS continues to expand its technological advantage in the field of main battle tank development, as we have witnessed at the Defence and…
THEON SENSORS | Distinguishing appearance at EUROSATORY 2024 with new range of products
THEON SENSORS attended the International Defence and Security Exhibition EUROSATORY 2024 as an ambassador of Greek innovation…
Ministry of Defence | Organization of Hellenic EDF Info Day
A Conference entitled “EDF Info Day” is organized in the Amphitheater of the National Gallery on Tuesday, July 9 from 09:00 to 17:00.
ALTUS LSA | Participates in EUROSATORY 2024 with KERVEROS in the foreground
The participation of ALTUS LSA in EUROSATORY 2024 is among the Greek participations of operational significance.
Freddy Beleris | Ιn jail until October
The elected mayor of Heimarra and Member of the European Parliament of New Democracy will remain in prison until October…
0 Comments