BBC investigation uncovers evidence implicating Marines never prosecuted in Haditha massacre

A BBC Eye investigation released Nov. 17, 2025 uncovered evidence implicating two U.S. Marines who were never prosecuted in the Haditha massacre. On Nov. 19, 2005, Marines killed 24 Iraqi civilians including 4 women and 6 children in Haditha, Iraq.

Safa Younes was 13 years old when Marines entered her family's home. She is the only person in her family who survived. The Marines killed her 5 siblings, her mother, her aunt, and her father.

Only one Marine was convicted

Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich was found guilty of negligent dereliction of duty in 2012

He served no jail time Eight Marines were originally charged but charges against seven were dropped.

The massacre occurred after a roadside bomb killed one Marine. Marines then went house to house killing civilians. Initial U.S. military reports claimed the civilians died from the roadside bomb or in crossfire with insurgents.