Iraq: U.S. troops have killed 13 journalists since March 2003

CPJ: The U.S. military has failed to fully investigate the killing of journalists by its forces in Iraq and to implement its own recommendations to improve media safety, an analysis published today by the Committee to Protect Journalists shows.

U.S. troops have killed 13 journalists since the U.S.-led war began in March 2003. At least 40 other journalists have been killed covering the conflict. Several of the 13 deaths suggest indifference by U.S. soldiers to the presence of civilians, including members of the press, according to the CPJ analysis. Another 21 media support staff have been killed in Iraq, two by U.S. forces.

In most cases, the U.S. military has either failed to investigate journalists' deaths or it has not made its inquiries public. The findings from the few investigations that have been released have not credibly addressed questions of accountability for shooting deaths, and whether U.S. forces are taking necessary measures to differentiate between combatants and civilians in conflict areas. Read more