美国国防部-与美国2020年军事行动有关的平民伤亡年度报告（英文）-2021.6-21页_240kb

Summary of the Department of Defense Annual Report on Civilian Casualties In Connection With United States Military Operations in 2020

Core Content

The Department of Defense (DoD) submitted its annual report on civilian casualties from U.S. military operations in 2020, in accordance with Section 1057 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018, as amended. The report outlines the number of civilian casualties, the military operations involved, and the process by which the DoD assesses and investigates such incidents.

Main Points

• Report Submission Requirement:

  • The Secretary of Defense must submit an annual report to the congressional defense committees by May 1 each year.
  • The report includes detailed information on each military operation that resulted in civilian casualties, including date, location, operation type, and casualty numbers.

• Civilian Casualty Assessments:

  • The DoD estimates that approximately 23 civilians were killed and 10 were injured in 2020 due to U.S. military operations.
  • The report also includes updates to previous years' assessments, reflecting new information and reevaluations of older reports.

• Report Sources and Credibility:

  • The DoD considers reports from a variety of sources, including military units, NGOs, media, and social media.
  • A report is deemed credible if it is more likely than not that civilian casualties occurred.
  • Reports not assessed as credible may be due to lack of information, duplication, or the casualties being identified as enemy combatants.

• Civilian Casualty Investigations:

  • The DoD investigates allegations of civilian casualties using a multi-source approach, including witness interviews, survivor accounts, and public reports.
  • The process includes evaluating the likelihood of civilian casualties and determining whether they were caused by U.S. military operations.

• Mitigation and Assistance:

  • The DoD outlines steps taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of best practices to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.
  • In cases where civilian casualties occur, the DoD may provide ex gratia payments or other assistance to affected individuals or families.

• Legal Framework:

  • The DoD adheres to the laws of armed conflict, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality.
  • Definitions of "combatant" and "noncombatant" are consistent with these laws.

Key Information

• Total Civilian Casualties in 2020:

  • Killed: 23
  • Injured: 10

• Operations Covered:

  • Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR): Iraq and Syria
  • Operation FREEDOM'S SENTINEL: Afghanistan
  • Yemen
  • Somalia
  • Nigeria

• Credible Civilian Casualty Incidents in 2020:

  • Iraq: 1 incident, 1 civilian killed
  • Afghanistan: 7 incidents, 20 civilians killed, 5 injured
  • Yemen: 1 incident, 1 civilian killed
  • Somalia: 2 incidents, 5 injured, 1 killed
  • Nigeria: 0 incidents

• Additional Updates:

  • 12 incidents from 2017 and 2018 were identified as credible and not previously reported.
  • 50 civilians killed and 22 injured in these incidents.

• Report Process:

  • The report is submitted in unclassified form, with a possible classified annex.
  • It is made public at the same time it is submitted to Congress, unless national security concerns are identified.
  • Monthly and quarterly reports are also issued to provide ongoing updates on civilian casualty assessments.

• Policy and Ethics:

  • The U.S. military is committed to minimizing civilian casualties as part of its ethical and strategic obligations.
  • Civilian protection is aligned with the effective use of force and the maintenance of public support for U.S. operations.

Structure of the Report

I. U.S. Military Operations Resulting in Civilian Casualties (2020)

• Operation INHERENT RESOLVE:

  • 1 incident in Iraq, 1 civilian killed.
  • 12 incidents from 2017 and 2018, 50 killed, 22 injured.

• Operation FREEDOM'S SENTINEL:

  • 7 incidents in Afghanistan, 20 killed, 5 injured.

• Yemen:

  • 1 incident in 2019, 1 civilian killed.
  • 1 incident in 2017, 12 civilians killed.

• Somalia:

  • 2 incidents in 2020, 5 injured, 1 killed.
  • 1 incident from 2019, 3 killed, 2 injured.

• Nigeria:

  • 0 incidents reported.

II. DoD Processes for Assessing Civilian Casualty Reports

• The DoD uses a multi-source approach to assess reports, including military units, NGOs, and public sources.
• The process includes evaluating the credibility of reports and determining whether they are more likely than not to have resulted from U.S. operations.
• The DoD is committed to using best practices to reduce the risk of civilian casualties and to provide assistance when necessary.

III. Discrepancies and Reasons for Differences

• Discrepancies between U.S. assessments and those of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are noted.
• These differences may be due to varying sources of information, interpretation of events, and the availability of data.

Conclusion

The report provides a comprehensive overview of U.S. military operations in 2020 that resulted in civilian casualties, as well as updates to previous years' assessments. It reflects the DoD's commitment to transparency, ethical conduct, and compliance with the laws of armed conflict.