Shinwar Massacre
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Shinwar shooting refers to the killing of a number of Afghan
civilians by US Marines who were fleeing the scene of a bomb attack, in the Shinwar District
of the Nangarhar Province
of Afghanistan
on March 4, 2007. According to some reports, as many as 19 civilians were killed and 50 injured in the shootings. The exact casualty figures have not been firmly established, however.
laden with explosives into one of the five vehicles making up a US convoy, which included three, or six, humvee
s, wounding one Marine. Sources differ on whether or not hidden gunmen then also opened fire on the convoy. US forces then fled the scene of the ambush, opening fire on some vehicles for 6-16 miles while driving along the Afghan street.
According to several witnesses and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
, US Marines responded to the attack with excessive force, firing indiscriminately at civilians passing by on the busy highway, killing elderly men, women, and children. Akhtyar Gul, a local reporter who witnessed the shooting, claimed that the Marines sprayed civilians with machine gun fire even though the Marines were not under attack.
Associated Press
and Afghan journalists claimed that US soldiers confiscated photos and videos of the killings and their aftermath.
The killings were followed by widespread protests across Afghanistan and drew sharp criticism from President Hamid Karzai
. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission contends that, "In failing to distinguish between civilians and legitimate military targets, the U.S. Marine Corps Special Forces employed indiscriminate force," the report said. "Their actions thus constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian standards."
Frank Kearney, head of the USSOCOM, ordered the entire 120-member unit out of Afghanistan pending an investigation into the incident, and announced that there was no evidence supporting the Marines' story that they had come under fire.
On April 3, 2007 the unit's commander and senior officer were relieved of their duties and sent back to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Compensation payments of approximately $2000 were reportedly paid to the families of those killed or wounded.
The shooting came under investigation by both Afghanistan and the United States. On April 12, 2007, an initial US inquiry determined that the Marines used "excessive force when they killed civilians after a suicide bombing", and was referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
for a criminal inquiry. On May 7, 2007 a formal apology was issued by The Pentagon
, but was dismissed as premature by General James T. Conway
,Commandant of the Marine Corps, who said, "I would just as soon that no one...apologize or talk about 'terrible, terrible mistakes'".
In January 2008, a Marine Corps Court of Inquiry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina formally investigated the incident, hearing from more than 50 witnesses, including Afghans, over 17 days. Much of the testimony was characterized as "vague and contradictory", but in the end the inquiry concluded that the convoy "acted appropriately and in accordance with the rules of engagement and tactics, techniques and procedures in place at the time in response to a complex attack."
, claimed that two soldiers and a translator came up to him and asked: "Why are you taking pictures? You don't have permission." Another photographer claimed that he had been told by US troops, through a translator: "Delete them [your photos], or we will delete you." All photos were deleted.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
civilians by US Marines who were fleeing the scene of a bomb attack, in the Shinwar District
Shinwar District
Shinwar is a district in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. It is on the main highway from Jalalabad to the Torkham border crossing. Its population, which is 100% Pashtun, was estimated at 40,147 in 2002, of whom 16,000 were children under 12. The district centre is the village of Shinwar...
of the Nangarhar Province
Nangarhar Province
Nangarhar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan in the east of the country. Its capital is the city of Jalalabad. The population of the province is 1,334,000, which consists mainly of ethnic Pashtuns with a sizable community of Arabs and Pashais....
of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
on March 4, 2007. According to some reports, as many as 19 civilians were killed and 50 injured in the shootings. The exact casualty figures have not been firmly established, however.
Sequence of events
Haji Ihsanullah, a member of Hezb-e Islami Khalis, initially drove a minivanMinivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
laden with explosives into one of the five vehicles making up a US convoy, which included three, or six, humvee
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
s, wounding one Marine. Sources differ on whether or not hidden gunmen then also opened fire on the convoy. US forces then fled the scene of the ambush, opening fire on some vehicles for 6-16 miles while driving along the Afghan street.
According to several witnesses and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission is an Afghan organisation dedicated to the preservation of human rights and the investigation of human rights abuses....
, US Marines responded to the attack with excessive force, firing indiscriminately at civilians passing by on the busy highway, killing elderly men, women, and children. Akhtyar Gul, a local reporter who witnessed the shooting, claimed that the Marines sprayed civilians with machine gun fire even though the Marines were not under attack.
Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and Afghan journalists claimed that US soldiers confiscated photos and videos of the killings and their aftermath.
Afghan response
| BBC News has video footage of local people protesting on the streets after the incident |
The killings were followed by widespread protests across Afghanistan and drew sharp criticism from President Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission contends that, "In failing to distinguish between civilians and legitimate military targets, the U.S. Marine Corps Special Forces employed indiscriminate force," the report said. "Their actions thus constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian standards."
Aftermath
Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Frank Kearney, head of the USSOCOM, ordered the entire 120-member unit out of Afghanistan pending an investigation into the incident, and announced that there was no evidence supporting the Marines' story that they had come under fire.
On April 3, 2007 the unit's commander and senior officer were relieved of their duties and sent back to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Compensation payments of approximately $2000 were reportedly paid to the families of those killed or wounded.
The shooting came under investigation by both Afghanistan and the United States. On April 12, 2007, an initial US inquiry determined that the Marines used "excessive force when they killed civilians after a suicide bombing", and was referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
The United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency of the United States Department of the Navy...
for a criminal inquiry. On May 7, 2007 a formal apology was issued by The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, but was dismissed as premature by General James T. Conway
James T. Conway
James Terry Conway is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who was the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps...
,Commandant of the Marine Corps, who said, "I would just as soon that no one...apologize or talk about 'terrible, terrible mistakes'".
In January 2008, a Marine Corps Court of Inquiry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina formally investigated the incident, hearing from more than 50 witnesses, including Afghans, over 17 days. Much of the testimony was characterized as "vague and contradictory", but in the end the inquiry concluded that the convoy "acted appropriately and in accordance with the rules of engagement and tactics, techniques and procedures in place at the time in response to a complex attack."
Treatment of photographers
It was also reported that photographers on the scene were ordered by US troops not to take photographs and to delete those they had already taken. A freelance photographer working for the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, claimed that two soldiers and a translator came up to him and asked: "Why are you taking pictures? You don't have permission." Another photographer claimed that he had been told by US troops, through a translator: "Delete them [your photos], or we will delete you." All photos were deleted.
See also
- Civilian casualties of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- Coalition casualties in AfghanistanCoalition casualties in AfghanistanAs of November 30, 2011, there have been 2,744 coalition deaths in Afghanistan as part of ongoing coalition operations since the invasion in 2001. In this total, the American figure is for deaths "In and Around Afghanistan" which, as defined by the U.S...
- Command responsibilityCommand responsibilityCommand responsibility, sometimes referred to as the Yamashita standard or the Medina standard, and also known as superior responsibility, is the doctrine of hierarchical accountability in cases of war crimes....
- International Security Assistance ForceInternational Security Assistance ForceThe International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
- Taliban insurgencyTaliban insurgencyThe Taliban insurgency took root shortly after the group's fall from power following the 2001 war in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to attack Afghan, U.S., and other ISAF troops and many terrorist incidents attributable to them have been registered. The war has also spread over the southern and...
- Haditha killingsHaditha killingsThe Haditha killings refers to the incident where 24 Iraqi men, women and children were killed by a group of United States Marines on November 19, 2005 in Haditha, a city in the western Iraqi province of Al Anbar. At least 15 of those killed were civilians...