Since the U.S. presence in Iraq began in 2003, the town of Ishaqi twice has suffered civilian massacres, allegedly involving American soldiers.

 

Five years ago, on March 15, 2006, the town, about 80 miles northwest of Baghdad, made headlines after U.S. troops were accused of executing at least 10 residents, including a 74-year-old woman and a five-month-old baby. The American military, then and now, has steadfastly rejected responsibility for the killings.

 

But a newly released State Department cable from WikiLeaks reveals a United Nations’ official in 2006 endorsed Iraqi claims that the U.S. was responsible for the massacre, which followed a firefight between U.S. troops and someone inside a house. All of those killed were handcuffed and shot in the head, including four women and five children aged five or younger.

 

An airstrike was called in afterwards, to destroy the evidence, according to Iraqi officials. Among those who blamed the U.S. were American-trained Iraqi police officers.

 

At the time of the 2006 incident, Ishaqi was considered so dangerous that U.S. military officials had classified all roads in the area as “black,” meaning they were likely booby-trapped.

 

Last week, more claims of American-involved killings arose out of Ishaqi. Locals say Iraqi and U.S. forces opened fire on civilians and threw grenades while conducting a raid that left a 13-year-old boy and an off-duty police officer dead.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

WikiLeaks: Iraqi Children in U.S. Raid Shot in Head, U.N. Says (by Matthew Schofield, McClatchy Newspapers)

Cable: Massacre of Iraqi Family by U.S. Troops in 2006 (WikiLeaks)

Iraqi Civilians Die in Raid, Complicating Pullout Talks (by Michael Schmidt, New York Times)

U.S. Military Denies New Abuse Allegations at Ishaqi (by Jonathan Karl, ABC News)