| abstract | - The Haditha killings (also called the Haditha massacre) occurred on November 19 2005 in Haditha, a city in the western Iraqi province of Al Anbar. The incident began when a convoy of United States Marines was attacked with an improvised explosive device which killed Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas. Up to 24 Iraqi non-combatant local residents were subsequently killed. It is alleged that they were massacred by Marines in retribution for the insurgent attack earlier in the day. A Marine Corps communique initially reported that 15 civilians were killed by the bomb's blast and eight insurgents were subsequently killed when the Marines returned fire against those attacking the convoy. However, media reports contradicted this story. The evidence uncovered by the media prompted the U.S. military to open an investigation into the incident. Evidence collected by this investigation "supports accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot civilians, including unarmed women and children", according to a Pentagon official. On December 21, 2006, eight Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines were charged in connection with the incident.
|
