[JURIST] US Marines involved in the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in Hadithah last November will face charges and possible courts-martial, according to US Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee [official profile], who said on Wednesday that a criminal investigation was underway. He did not say who will be charged or what they will be charged with. According to allegations revealed [report] by TIME magazine in March, the soldiers are suspected of killing civilians without warning on Nov. 19, 2005, after a roadside bomb killed Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas. Most of the Iraqis were unarmed, and at least seven were women and three children. Hagee promised that reports would follow -- one on administrative issues and one on criminal charges -- and he confirmed that the incident has been under investigation for more than six months.

Three officers allegedly involved in the incident, including two company commanders, were relieved of duty on April 7, but military officials have not stated the reason for their discharges. Army Times has more.