3-56. Army forces support civilian protection in two general ways. First, they act in accordance with the law of armed conflict and other relevant bodies of law to minimize harm to civilians during their own military operations. Moreover, they avoid actions that undermine efforts by other actors to improve civil security. Second, Army forces may conduct deliberate actions to protect civilians, including stability operations intended to create conditions conducive to civilian security. The second is especially true during consolidation of gains by providing area security, performing the minimum-essential security tasks, and performing the Army stability operations tasks, especially the establishment of civil security and civil control. (See JP 3-0, JP 3-07.3, and ATP 3-07.6 for detailed discussions on protection of civilians.)