Advocacy groups are intensifying calls for the Pentagon to issue long-overdue condolence payments to civilians harmed by U.S. military operations overseas. The push, directed at Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, highlights the Biden administration’s unfulfilled pledge to improve accountability for unintended casualties in conflicts spanning Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen.
The appeal, led by organizations such as the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) and Human Rights Watch, comes as Austin’s tenure nears its end. Advocates urge him to act on outstanding payment claims, particularly in cases where the Pentagon has already confirmed civilian harm.
“Survivors have waited for years,” said Joanna Naples-Mitchell, of the Zomia Center, which represents affected families. These civilians have endured profound losses — homes, livelihoods, and loved ones — due to flawed airstrikes and military operations. For some, the loss of a family breadwinner or the onset of chronic disabilities has compounded the suffering.
Maha Khalil Ali, whose husband was killed in a 2016 airstrike in Mosul, Iraq, emphasized the significance of recognition. “The compensation is not all about the money,” Ali said. “It’s about the rights for those who lost a loved one.”
Condolence payments, unlike formal reparations, are discretionary and intended as gestures of goodwill rather than comprehensive compensation for losses. Yet Pentagon records reveal an alarming lack of follow-through: between 2020 and 2022, only one such payment was made, despite Congress allocating $3 million annually for the purpose.
In comparison, approximately $2 million was distributed for actions in Afghanistan between 2015 and 2019, with payments ranging from $131 to $40,000. Critics argue the Pentagon’s failure to disburse allocated funds signals a lack of commitment to addressing the human toll of its operations.
Annie Shiel of CIVIC criticized the slow pace of progress. “All Secretary Austin has to do now is say yes,” she said.
Under Austin’s leadership, the Pentagon introduced reforms aimed at reducing civilian harm. This includes a new framework for investigating casualties and a “center of excellence” to improve practices across the military. However, these initiatives have yet to translate into meaningful action for many families.
Emily Tripp, director of Airwars, which tracks civilian casualties, called for greater acknowledgment of the human impact of U.S. actions. “Civilians aren’t just collateral,” Tripp said. “They are individuals with needs, grievances, and complicated lives.”
The personal stories underscore the urgency of the issue. In Somalia, a 2020 strike killed an 18-year-old woman and injured three others, including a 7-year-old girl. While U.S. Africa Command later acknowledged civilian harm, affected families, such as journalist Mohamed Osman Abdi’s, remain without compensation or formal acknowledgment.
In Iraq, Ilyas Ali Abd Ali, a fruit vendor, lost a leg and his hearing in one ear during a 2016 strike in Mosul. His injuries prevent him from supporting his family, leaving them in dire straits.
“We are desperate,” Ali said. “My two daughters pray every single day for a solution, for a light at the end of this dark tunnel.”
Advocates stress that resolving these cases would not only ease the burdens on affected families but also reaffirm the Pentagon’s commitment to accountability. Sarah Yager of Human Rights Watch highlighted the symbolic importance of these payments.
“If your father was killed by a military and you knew that they didn’t even know who he was — that’s devastating,” she said.
As the clock ticks down on Austin’s tenure, victims and their advocates hope for decisive action that could set a precedent for future administrations. For families still waiting, acknowledgment and assistance could be the first step toward healing wounds left by years of neglect.
