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The
War Profiteers - War Crimes, Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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The Killing of Yokhana Ygo Yokhana &
Omar Faud |
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Background - Kirkuk, January 1st,
2006, January 1st, 2006 - Memorandum for:
[redacted] Report by the U.S.
Army, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infrantry, 1st
Brigade, 101st Airborne Division “[…] At approximately 1500 on 01 JAN 06 1st
Section from 2nd PLT Bravo Company moved from the Rahem Awa Police
Station into a flanking/blocking position [redacted] control a crowd of
agitated demonstrators/rioters. The patrol leader was [redacted] (Bayonet 25)
other individuals on site included [redacted] (Bayonet 27), [redacted] (PLT
Medic), [redacted] (Team Leader), [redacted] (Squad Leader). After the
initial incident [redacted] arrived on the scene. “The section set there three vehicles in position:
Two were set side by side with a three story building to their right. The
third vehicle was to their rear pulling rear security with [redacted] and
[redacted] co-located with vehicle. To the left of vehicles there was a
parking lot, a small building, and some trees and bushes limiting view of the
major road (running generally North to South) in front of their position.
Directly in front of their position was a major road. To the front, rear, and
left of their position large groups of demonstrators had gathered. “The demonstrators were demonstrating because of a
recent rupture in the sewage line within the Rahem Awa Neighborhood which was
flooding their homes. They were additionally agitated due to the Rahem Awa
Police firing warning shot [sic] in the air. This group of demonstrators was
most notably agitated of any group of demonstrators at the time the Bayonet
element was ordered to secure [redacted]. The Local Nationals (LN) were
throwing rocks at Coalition Forces which varied in size from small to large
as well as burning tires and throwing aerosol cans into the fires. Some
members of the crowd used sling shots to fling rocks at Coalition Forces
causing injury to several members of the patrol (most notably [redacted]) who
has visible bruising on his right ha[n]d as well as a small cut on the same
hand). The patrol heard warning shots from the Rahem Awa Police as well as
sporadic small arms fire from the rear of the position (several hundred
meters behind them). “The Escalation of Force (EOF) incident occurred
approximately 30 minutes after setting into the patrol’s blocking position.
Prior to the 4 door white sedan moving into the alley[,] two vehicles had
been diverted by the Bayonet element from driving into the alley by shouting
‘stop’ and ‘kief’ as well as using hand gestures to stop and turn around. “The white 4 sedan approached from the North moving
South through the crowd of demonstrators. The demonstrators who had calmed
down considerably at this point made attempts to stop the vehicle from
approaching CF in the alley. The vehicle continued at a slow rate of speed
(approximately 5 - 10 mph) towards the CF position. At this point [redacted]
(interpreter), [redacted] and [redacted] (all dismounted soldiers and M240B
gunner) began to yell at the driver of the vehicle to stop in English,
Arabic, and Kurdish. At this point the driver continued to ignore orders
given to him by CF. They then continued to yell in raised voices, starting
using hand gestures to signal the vehicle to stop. The driver of the vehicle
made eye contact with several members of the section ([redacted] who was
position [sic] in the door war of the 3 story building is certain he made eye
contact with him). At this point dismounted soldiers raised their weapons and
[redacted] charged his M240B. The vehicle then past [sic] the ‘GUN LINE’ (as
described to me by members of the patrol - a predetermined point 20 meters in
front of their position where the use of headly force became authorized of a
threatening incident occurred (possibility of SVBIED)). When the white sedan
(driven by Yokhana Ygo Yokhana) approached the CF position at a distance of
15 meters[,] [redacted] (patrol leader) engaged (M4) the vehicle engine block
with several rounds and then fired an additional rounds which impacted in the
driver’s side windshield and into the driver. At this time the other
dismounts and M240B gunner (as listed above) engaged the vehicle […]
following their patrol leaders initial engagement of Mr. Yokhana’s vehicle.
They continued to fire for approximately 3 - 5 seconds until the order of
cease fire was given by [redacted] and [redacted]. who was in an over watch
position from the roof of the three story building). The vehicle rolled to a
stop 5 meters from the coalition forces lead HUMVVE [sic]. “Members of the section then approached the vehicle
with caution (due to the belief the vehicle might be SVBIED). [redacted] saw
that Mr. Yokhana was ‘twitching’ and called for an EFR. Patrol members placed
Mr. Yokhana behind a 4 foot wall and rendered medical attention to him. The
victim had between 10 to 15 gunshot wounds. Soon after Mr. Yokhana died of
wounds sustained. The patrol covered his body with a sheet found in the three
story building adjacent to their position. Mr. Yokhana’s wounds were severe
and deadly[,] still CF medics rendered aide in attempt to save his life. “While EFRs gave Mr. Yokhana medical care the crowd
of rioters signaled to CF that there were individuals wounded in the crowd
(Omar Faud and Aleel Ihsan Wahab). No member of the Bayonet element engaged
the crowd. The two wounded individuals were at ten degree angel [sic] from
where CF engaged Mr. Yokhana’s vehicle. [redacted] signaled to four LNs to
bring the 2 wounded individuals into CF position. No member of the patrol was
sent into the crowd for their protection. The two wounded individuals were
brought behind the two lead HMMVEs and in front of rear vehicle where [redacted]
and [redacted] administered medical treatment. Both LNs had exit wounds on
their right side. […] “A quick patrol was then put together and sent to
KGH [Kirkuk General Hospital] with the two wounded LNs. Approximately 3
minutes out from KGH Omar Faud died of wounds he sustained (he had [a] sucking
chest wound). Omar Faud[‘s] body was turned over to individuals at KGH. The
patrol delivered Aleel Ihsan Wahab (who had an exit wound coming out of his
right rib cage) to KGH for further medical treatment. The patrol then
continued their mission. “Bayonet 26 and Bayonet 27 turned the body of
Yokhana Ygo Yokhana to the Rahem Awa Police (he was delivered in a CF HUMVMVE
because the Iraqi ambulance would not transport him)[.] IOT ensured his body
was returned to his [ ] (which had already spoken with Rahem Awa Police about
his death). […] “[…] The Bayonet element did everything within their
power to save the wounded individuals[‘] lives. Two medics and three EFR qualified
soldiers render aide immediately after the incident with all available
resources. “In my opinion the Rules of Engagement were followed
and EOF was established. Due to the current tactical situation within Kirkuk
at the time (there was a demonstration occuring in the vicinity of the Rahem
Awa neighborhood consisting of 400 - 500 rioters who were buring
buildings/tires and throwing rocks at CF, three SVBIEDs had been initiated
within the city of Kirkuk between the hours of 1200 - 1500 of the same (two in
Bravo Company’s Area of Responsibility), and there had been two IED
detonations one on an ISF patrol and the other on the Cougar 16 element who
had been diverted to secure and [sic] SVBIED site on the border of Charlie
and Bravo Company’s AORs) the patrol had reasonable suspicion to believe Mr.
Yokhana’s vehicle was a threat. Two other vehicles had been diverted using
their EOF procedures. According to two soldiers on the scene the vehicle
attitiude (windows rolled up and one male occupant/driver) matched the description
of an individual who might initiate a SVBIED, as briefed by their chain of
command (at an ‘earlier’ date). The patrol yelled in three languages for the
vehicle to stop, used hand gestures, then raised their weapons (charged their
weapon in the case of M240B), fired shots into the car itself, and as a last
resort fired at the driver of the vehicle. Mr. Yokhana saw the Bayonet
element raise their weapons and [redacted] case charge his weapon. Mr.
Yokhana made no attempt to comply with CF orders to stop the vehicle. No
member of the element fired into the crowd of demonstrators. It appears as if
the two LNs were wounded by ricochets or shots that missed the threat vehicle
(there is no way to positively confirm either way). […]” |
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