Asaad Kadhim

13 Confirmed cases of journalists killed in Iraq by U.S. Forces (March 2003-August 2005)

New York, April 21, 2004—Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the deputy director of operations for coalition forces in Iraq, confirmed yesterday that U.S. troops killed an Iraqi journalist and his driver near the Iraqi city of Samara, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Baghdad, on Monday.

Asaad Kadhim, a correspondent for the U.S. government–funded Al-Iraqiya TV, and his driver, Hussein Saleh, died after being struck by gunfire from U.S. forces near a checkpoint on Monday, April 19. Cameraman Jassem Kamel was injured in the shooting.

New York, April 19, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned about reports that a correspondent for a U.S.–backed television station and his driver were killed today by U.S. fire in the central Iraqi city of Samara, north of Baghdad.

Asaad Kadhim, a correspondent for the U.S.–funded Al-Iraqiya TV, and his driver, Hussein Saleh, were killed by gunfire from U.S. forces, according to The Associated Press, which cited Al-Iraqiya reports.

A driver for the U.S.-funded Al-Iraqiya TV, he was killed by gunfire from U.S. forces near a checkpoint close to the Iraqi city of Samara, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Baghdad. Correspondent Asaad Kadhim was killed and cameraman Jassem Kamel was injured.

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for coalition forces in Iraq, confirmed on April 20 that U.S. troops killed the driver and journalist. According to media reports, Kimmitt said coalition forces at the checkpoint fired several warning shots to try to stop the journalists' vehicle. When the vehicle ignored those shots, Kimmitt said, forces fired at the car.