Safa Younes, now 33, remains the sole survivor of a harrowing incident that claimed her entire family in the Iraqi town of Haditha. On November 19, 2005, US Marines stormed her family home, opening fire and killing her parents, siblings, and aunt. Safa, then just 13, survived by pretending to be dead among the bodies of her loved ones. Two decades later, a BBC Eye investigation has uncovered new evidence implicating two Marines in the killings, raising serious questions about the accountability of US armed forces. The Haditha massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians, including women and children, remains one of the most controversial episodes of the Iraq War. Despite extensive investigations, no one has been convicted for the killings. The Marines claimed they were responding to gunfire after a roadside bomb attack, but Safa insists her family was unarmed and innocent. Forensic expert Michael Maloney’s analysis suggests that two Marines entered the room where Safa’s family was shot, contradicting earlier accounts. The case highlights systemic failures in military justice, with survivors like Safa still seeking accountability and closure.
Two US marines implicated in killing family in notorious Iraq war shooting, expert tells BBC
