Engagement rules observed
Volume 11, No. 47, July 13, 2006

SECDET soldiers acted in accordance with their rules of engagement during a shooting incident in Baghdad on June 21, CDF ACM Angus Houston has said.
An investigation by JTF 633 Commander Brig Mick Moon had found that “our personnel acted in accordance with their rules of engagement” during the patrol’s contact while on routine security duties.

“A civilian vehicle broke through a cordon which had been established by Iraqi authorities to allow a number of ASLAVs to enter a roadway without interference from traffic,” ACM Houston said.
“This civilian vehicle continued towards the ASLAVs despite clear warnings in English and Arabic displayed on the rear of the ASLAVs, and repeated visual signals and shouted warnings from both the Australian personnel and the Iraqi facility protective services providing the cordon.

“Despite these warnings, the civilian vehicle moved alongside one of the ASLAVs. Believing the threat of an attack was imminent, Australian personnel fired at it until it no longer posed a threat.
“I deeply regret the injury and loss of life from this incident. However, on the basis of this investigation, I am satisfied that the actions of the security detachment personnel were warranted under the circumstances.”
The vehicle was being driven in a manner consistent with the tactics, techniques and procedures employed by insurgents conducting vehicle-borne IED attacks.

The incident would be discussed with Iraqi officials including those from the Ministry of Trade to ensure that all reasonable steps were taken to avoid a similar incident in the future, ACM Houston said.
He said the soldiers gave the vehicle “the benefit of the doubt right to the very last moment”.

“The Iraqi vehicle weaved its way through the middle of two waiting columns of standing vehicles and then went through the cordon. One of the Iraqi protective people had to jump out of the way,” he said.
“The vehicle swerved around them and then proceeded around them in a fairly erratic manner towards the ASLAVs.”

While ACM Houston was unable to say how many rounds were fired, he said the patrol had used very light weapons and not the heavy weapons available to them.