This is the room where my whole family was killed, says Safa Younes, the sole survivor of her family after a tragic incident in Haditha, Iraq in 2005, where US Marines opened fire on her home.
Two decades later, a BBC Eye investigation reveals that two marines, who have so far escaped accountability, are implicated in the massacre of 24 civilians, including women and children, further questioning how such actions have been treated under US military justice.
The Haditha incident began when a roadside bomb killed a US Marine. In response, Marines stormed into the homes of civilians, executing unarmed residents, including Safa’s family. The investigation unearthed fresh evidence that suggests that conflicting testimonies and previous investigations may have misrepresented the events that unfolded that fateful day.
The killings were part of what became known as the Haditha massacre and triggered the longest war crimes investigation of the Iraq war, yet no one was ever convicted of a crime relating to the deaths.
Testimonies from marines involved contain discrepancies, with one admitting to shooting Safa’s father. Forensic experts argue that further scrutiny is warranted, as earlier accounts suggest a grave miscommunication and mishandling of the truth, leaving the families of the victims without justice.
Safa, now 33 and a mother of three, reflects on the day her family was slaughtered and expresses her disbelief that those responsible have yet to face consequences. She argues for accountability, insisting that what happened to her family and others involved was devastatingly unjust.
As the investigation continues and more evidence comes to light, the calls for accountability and investigation into military actions in Iraq grow louder, spotlighting not just past incidents but the ongoing implications of military conduct.
