The report says U.S. commanders moved troops from vulnerable Gulf bases into hotels and office spaces in civilian areas because those bases lacked adequate protection against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. Experts quoted by The New York Times say that exposes both civilians and U.S. personnel, and may breach the duty to keep military objectives separated from civilian populations.
βThis is the first war the United States is facing where we see the implications of democratized air power and the long-range persistent strikes from their adversary. And the lack of preparedness is not limited to this theater.β Kelly Grieco, senior fellow, Stimson Center βIt is unconscionable that U.S. forces would knowingly put civilians at risk by leaving their bases and moving to hotels in the densely populated city centers. The commanders who ordered these relocations, not out of the conflict area but right into the heart of the civilian populations, should be investigated for violating U.S. laws of war.β Brian Castner, crisis researcher, Amnesty International βThese are mushy rules in the sense that all these obligations are to the maximum extent feasible. But do the U.S. actions raise issues here? They do.β Kevin Jon Heller, professor of international law and security, University of Copenhagenβs Center for Military Studies βPassive precautions are required, but they are often not followed. Billeting troops in civilian structures in which there are civilians as in a hotel that is still being used or an apartment building where civilians are still living would be a violation of passive precautions.β Michael Schmitt, professor of international law, University of Reading; emeritus professor, U.S. Naval War College
π¨πΊπΈπ₯ Trump launched a war before U.S. bases were ready for Iranβs missile-and-drone retaliation, leaving troops pushed into civilian hotels instead of hardened protection. That is not strength; it is reckless command failure. #Trump #Iran #ForceProtection
