Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Camp Speicher Massacre UNITAD Publishes Milestone Report on ISIL (Da’esh)’s crimes in and around the Tikrit Presidential Palace Complex

This report is the public version of the comprehensive legal analysis that was handed over to the Iraqi judiciary on June 10th, 2024, alongside the package of underlying evidence, which included evidence originally collected and produced by the Team. It presents factual and preliminary legal findings on the massacre at the Tikrit Presidential Palaces Complex in Salah al-Din province, where some 1700 soldiers, cadets and volunteers, escaping from the Tikrit Air Academy, were killed between 12 and at least 14 June 2014.

These milestone findings conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the killing operation at the Presidential Palace Complex was undertaken with genocidal intent in the context of an ISIL (Da’esh) genocidal policy against the Shi’a in Iraq. It also finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the same acts amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

As one of the most gruesome mass killings committed by ISIL (Da’esh) in Iraq, the Tikrit Air Academy massacre formed one of UNITAD’s core investigative priorities since the Team commenced its work in Iraq. This report is the fruit of close coordination and partnership between UNITAD’s dedicated Field Investigative Unit and the Iraqi judiciary, competent Iraqi authorities, families of victims, and relevant civil society organizations, who all supported and facilitated this line of investigation over the past six years.

“While we mark this somber commemoration, ten years since ISIL (Da’esh) perpetrators committed this horrific massacre, our Team presents, to the public, this report which details and analyzes what has been committed between the 12th and at least the 14th of June 2014.  In this, we acknowledge the deep grief and scarring that remains in the hearts of many families, including mothers, fathers and wives. The Team is deeply grateful for their unwavering support to our investigations, and supports their continued calls for accountability,” said Acting Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD Ana Peyro Llopis.

The full report can be accessed in English and in Arabic on UNITAD’s website and can be accessed here.