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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking on Saturday, emphasized the importance of civilian protection by Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. He stressed that ensuring the safety of noncombatants is crucial for success in urban warfare, drawing on his experiences in Iraq and leading the fight against ISIS.
The call for civilian protection comes as hostilities between Israel and Hamas resumed after a week-long ceasefire broke down, with both sides attributing the failure to the other.
Austin, speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, reflected on lessons learned from urban combat against groups like ISIS. He highlighted that creating humanitarian corridors and prioritizing civilian safety were key strategies employed by the international coalition against ISIS.
According to Austin, the essence of winning urban battles lies in the protection of civilians, as neglecting this can turn a tactical victory into a strategic defeat.
The recent surge in conflict between Israel and Hamas started with a surprise cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, reportedly resulting in around 1,200 deaths. Israel’s subsequent land and air campaign in Hamas-controlled Gaza is said to have caused over 15,000 deaths.
These events have fueled widespread outrage in the Middle East, leading to attacks against both American troops in the region and Israel. Israel has faced drone and missile attacks from Lebanon and Yemen, while U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted in attacks injuring numerous American personnel.
Washington has attributed these attacks on its forces to Iran-backed groups and has carried out air strikes in retaliation in recent weeks.
Austin firmly stated the U.S. will protect its personnel, emphasizing that such attacks must cease. He declared that the U.S. will take necessary actions to defend its troops and impose consequences on those who attack them.
