About Collateral Murder
“Collateral Murder” is the title given by WikiLeaks to a classified U.S. military video they released on April 5, 2010. The video, recorded from the gunsight of an Apache helicopter, shows an incident that occurred on July 12, 2007, in the New Baghdad area of Baghdad, Iraq. It captures U.S. military personnel attacking a group of individuals on the ground, resulting in the deaths of over a dozen people, including two Reuters journalists, Namir Noor-Eldeen and Saeed Chmagh.
WikiLeaks released this video to raise awareness of what they saw as the indiscriminate killing of civilians by U.S. forces. The footage also includes radio transmissions and shows the military personnel opening fire on a van that attempted to rescue the wounded. The van contained two children who were seriously injured.
The video sparked widespread debate and criticism, particularly over the rules of engagement and the classification of the attack as justified by the military investigation. The controversy highlighted concerns about the conduct of U.S. forces during the Iraq War and the treatment of journalists in conflict zones.
Summary of the WikiLeaks Video Controversy
On April 5, 2010, WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video that showed an Apache helicopter gunship indiscriminately killing over a dozen people in New Baghdad, an Iraqi suburb. Among the victims were two Reuters journalists. Reuters had sought this footage via the Freedom of Information Act since the incident occurred but was unsuccessful. The video depicts the unprovoked killing of a wounded Reuters journalist and his rescuers, as well as the serious wounding of two children involved in the rescue.
After Reuters demanded information, the U.S. military investigated and concluded that the soldiers’ actions complied with the law of armed conflict and their “Rules of Engagement.” WikiLeaks released the military’s Rules of Engagement from 2006, 2007, and 2008, revealing guidelines before, during, and after the killings.
The video, available in both a 38-minute full version and a shorter edited version with initial analysis, contains added subtitles from radio transmissions to clarify the context. It was leaked to WikiLeaks by military whistleblowers, and the organization verified its authenticity through cross-checking multiple sources and consulting witnesses and journalists directly involved.
On July 6, 2010, Private Bradley Manning, a 22-year-old U.S. Army intelligence analyst stationed in Baghdad, was charged with disclosing the footage after allegedly speaking to a journalist. Daniel Ellsberg, famous for releasing the Pentagon Papers, called Manning a “hero.” Manning was imprisoned in Kuwait, while none of the Apache crew or those involved in the cover-up faced charges.
WikiLeaks aims to ensure that all leaked information receives the attention it deserves. The video serves as a reminder that journalists often risk their lives to report on conflicts, especially in dangerous areas like Iraq, where 139 journalists were killed between 2003 and 2009.