A group of national and international organizations urges Secretary of Defense Mattis to take corrective steps following reports that U.S.-led airstrikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties in both Syria and Iraq.
April 5, 2017
Secretary of Defense James Mattis
U.S. Department of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 22202
Dear Secretary Mattis:
Since members of the Prevention and Protection Working Group* wrote on February 17[^1] to call your attention to the likelihood of disastrous consequences should the United States choose to rollback standards related to rules of engagement and use of force, we are deeply disturbed by reports that U.S.-led airstrikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties in both Syria[^2] and Iraq.[^3]
These latest reports – coupled with the request in the Presidential Memorandum Plan to Defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – have sparked concern that rules of engagement and use of force standards designed to minimize civilian harm have, in fact, been weakened. Whether or not rules of engagement have been changed related to military action in Iraq and Syria[^4], the recent casualties belie a troubling lack of strategic and tactical emphasis on minimizing harm to civilians. Further concerns have been raised about the accelerated pace of operations, the risks of operating in urban areas, and the delegation of decision making to lower levels of command; all of which are likely to contribute to increased civilian casualties.
We write to urge you to take corrective steps now, including by:
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Conducting immediate investigations into the recent airstrikes in Syria and Iraq that resulted in civilian casualties, and work closely with local NGOs and any other sources able to provide information that could clarify details of how the recent strikes in Syria and Iraq have affected civilians,
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Publicly disclosing what precautionary measures were and will be undertaken to reduce risk to civilians during current operations and for future operations,
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Swiftly reviewing DoD tactics and procedures to reduce civilian harm, and
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Maintaining the highest standards in terms of the protection of civilians and human rights concerning rules of engagement and use of force.
As we stated previously: “The way in which the U.S. Government uses force has direct implications on our ability to reduce violent extremism. Upholding robust rules of engagement and other policy standards specific to civilian casualties advances United States’ goals and interests across the immediate and longer term.”
Lessons learned in Afghanistan remind us that integrating measures to mitigate harm to civilians can reduce support for insurgencies and terrorist groups, and – at a minimum – can deprive groups of further opportunities for recruitment. Conversely, an increase in civilian casualties will have the opposite impact, directly working against U.S. goals and objectives by creating an environment increasingly ripe for extremism, undermining local governance, and making peace and reconciliation much more difficult. Increased civilian harm signals that the United States places less value on civilian life, strains support for U.S. action among our coalition allies as well as among civilian populations, erodes U.S. leadership, and further diminishes America’s role as a global standard bearer and an exemplar of rights and values.
Again, reiterating our deep concern about the rise in civilian casualties as the result of recent U.S.-led airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, we urge you take corrective steps now to ensure accountability, assess the causes of these incidents, and do everything in your power to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sincerely,
American Values Network
Charity and Security Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Genocide Prevention Program, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University
Pax Christi International
Peace Direct
STAND: The Student-led Movement to End Mass Atrocities
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Cc: General Joseph Votel, Commander, United States Central Command
Theresa Whelan, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J5
U.S. Senate and House Armed Services Committees
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee
*The Prevention and Protection Working Group is a coalition of human rights, religious, humanitarian, anti-genocide, peace and other organizations dedicated to improving U.S. Government policies and civilian capacities to prevent violent conflict, mass atrocities and protect civilians threatened by such crises.
[^1]: Reference: https://www.fcnl.org/updates/11-organizations-urge-secretary-mattis-to-protect-civilians-658
[^2]: Reference: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/world/middleeast/syria-us-airstrike.html
[^3]: Reference: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/world/middleeast/us-iraq-mosul-investigation-airstrike-civilian-deaths.html?_r=0
[^4]: As of the writing of this letter, a rollback of rules of engagement specific to Somalia was reported, and is problematic along similar lines to those articulated in the letter concerning Iraq and Syria. Reference: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/world/africa/trump-is-said-to-ease-combat-rules-in-somalia-designed-to-protect-civilians.html