What is established by a commander to coordinate all fires within an area of operation?

The Fire Support Coordination Line (FSCL) is established by a commander to coordinate all fires within an area of operation. It serves as a critical boundary that delineates the area where both the ground and air forces can engage targets without needing to seek further clearance from higher command. This enhances the speed and flexibility of fire support, enabling forces to respond swiftly to threats while managing the safe use of indirect fire.

The FSCL is crucial for effective joint operations, as it ensures that all components of the military can plan and execute fire missions while minimizing the risk of friendly fire. It also helps in maintaining situational awareness among units regarding where they can and cannot engage targets without additional authorization.

Other options, while related to fire support, have different purposes. For instance, a Free Fire Area allows any unit to engage targets without prior approval, but it does not provide the same level of coordination as an FSCL. A Restricted Fire Area limits the types of fire that can be used or constrains fire to particular conditions, which focuses more on control rather than coordination. The Kill Box combines offensive and defensive combat operations but is also not designed primarily for coordination of fires within an operational area.