The top Marine Corps general flew to Iraq today to tell his troops they must kill "only when justified," as the US military investigated whether Marines killed civilians in two incidents.
The trip by Gen Michael Hagee, the Marine Corps commandant, to meet with Marines at bases in Iraq showed his personal concern over recent allegations about the actions of Marines in combat, the Marines said in a statement.
Military officials were to brief members of Congress on Thursday about a criminal probe into a November incident in which Marines are suspected of killing numerous civilians in Haditha, Iraq last November.
The military has said 15 civilians were killed, while a senior Republican lawmaker put the number at about 24.
In addition, the Marines announced yesterday a separate criminal investigation into the role of "several" troops in the death of an Iraqi civilian on April 26th in the area of Hamandiyah, west of Baghdad.
"We do not employ force just for the sake of employing force. We use lethal force only when justified, proportional and, most importantly, lawful," Gen Hagee said in remarks, intended for Marines in Iraq, that were released by the military.
There are about 21,000 Marines currently deployed to Iraq. A total of 717 Marines have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, the military said.
Gen Hagee will emphasize a need to follow the laws of war, the Geneva Conventions and rules of engagement set by the military, the Marine Corps said. Marines are serving in Anbar province, one of the most violent parts of Iraq and the heart of the Sunni Muslim insurgency.
"We must regulate force and violence, we only damage property that must be damaged, and we protect the noncombatants we find on the battlefield," Gen Hagee added.
He said Marines had to be "doubly on guard" when engaged in combat, particularly counterinsurgency operations.