When the Iraqis continued to approach the station, either not understanding or ignoring the order, the soldiers shouted at them to stop, and the Iraqis ran away. The soldiers pursued the group, and pistol-whipped Alaiwi when they caught him, leaving two, prominent welts on his forehead. The soldiers then destroyed the gas cans with their knives.

Alaiwi was confused and angry after the beating. I never attached them, they suddenly attacked me. They beat me with their guns, and threatened me with a knife. When they came, they were supposed to give us our freedom, not assault us. He [the soldier] insulted me. If he was an Iraqi, I would kill him. But he is an American, and I can’t do anything, Alaiwi said.

Ahmed, an eyewitness to the attack, commented, The fight today was nothing. A few days ago, an old man quarreled with the Americans and they kicked him in the head. Every day such situations happen.