The Pentagon acknowledged Tuesday that two civilians were killed and two others injured during U.S. operations in the Middle East.
The disclosure came in the Defense Department’s annual civilian casualties report to Congress, fulfilling legal requirements for transparency about unintended harm. The report also revealed an upward revision to the Pentagon’s 2023 civilian casualty figures.
In early February 2024, an adult male civilian was killed during an air strike in Iraq. Later that month, one child was killed and two others were injured at a military weapons range in Syria. A civilian harm assessment recommended installing a fence or barrier to prevent unauthorized entry onto the range.
The Pentagon also updated its 2023 figures after reviewing additional reports, adding two adult male civilians killed and one injured during a December 2023 air strike in Iraq.
Congress requires the annual accounting under the National Defense Authorization Act, which mandates disclosure of civilian casualty assessment procedures and mitigation efforts.
The report also includes details about possible compensation payments to victims’ families and steps taken to prevent future incidents.
The Defense Department released the report publicly alongside its congressional submission. Full details appear in the official document posted on the Pentagon’s policy website.