The US-backed government put rebel losses at more than 2,000, although unit commanders later revealed their troops had orders to shoot all males of fighting age seen on the streets, armed or unarmed, and ruined homes across the city attest to a strategy of overwhelming force.last month, while the offensive was ongoing, the military disclosed that it would not permit fighting age men to leave the city:
Troops have cut off all roads and bridges leading out of the city and have turned back hundreds of men trying to flee the city during the assault. Only women, children and the elderly can leave.so putting that together, the u.s. military does not permit any males between the ages of 15 to 55 leave fallujah, turning them back into the city when they try to flee. then the military goes into the city, killing any "fighting age" male even if he isn't fighting. so if you're a male falluji, you are simply slated for death, whether or not you ever pick up any arms against the u.s.
The military says keeping men aged 15 to 55 from leaving is key to the mission's success.
"If they're not carrying a weapon, you can't tell who's who," said an officer with the 1st Cavalry Division.
i realize war is messy, but this sounds more like a slaughter to me.
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