Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha arrived in Jordan from Fort Campbell in July 2016 to provide weapons training for allied soldiers fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
According to investigative documents, the Green Berets involved in the shooting all were clean-shaven, wearing identifying uniforms, well trained in weapons and fluent in Arabic. The vehicles were low-mileage and well-maintained to prevent backfires. They were clearly identifiable to Jordanian guards as friendlies.
“There was no indication of threats to U.S. personnel, thus the vehicles were not armored,” the report said.
Early on Nov. 4, the team left the base to conduct weapons training at a military range about four miles away. They returned shortly after noon. The convoy included five soldiers in four vehicles. The entry to the secured base included a pivot arm, spike strip and rolling gate.
“The demeanor of the guards did not give any indication of fear or trepidation,” according to the redacted report.
The first vehicle passed the guard shack without incident.
When the second was even with the guard shack, Abu Tayeh, who was inside, “fired numerous shots from his M16 rifle through the windshield,” mortally wounding Lewellen and McEnroe, the report says.
Moriarty and a fourth American bailed from their vehicle and took cover behind a concrete barrier. Abu Tayeh left the shack and pursued them while firing his weapon. The Americans at one time put down their pistols and told the gunman in Arabic that they were Americans.
The fourth American, whose name is redacted in the report, said in his statement: “Every time we put our hands or heads above the barrier the guard fired upon us. I communicated with Moriarty and we decided to shoot back since the guard was not interested in talking.”
Abu Tayeh, wearing body armor, continued to fire, eventually killing Moriarty.
“I stood up and fired a complete magazine of my Glock at the guard,” the fourth American said. “The guard fell to the ground and I kicked his (rifle) away.”
During the 6 1/2 minutes of gunfire, other Jordanian soldiers kept other Americans away.
The report concluded that Lewellen and McEnroe had no chance because of the “extremely close proximity” of the shooter. Of Moriarty and the other American, the report said they “attempted to maneuver to gain a better position without abandoning their teammates.”
After the shooting, a U.S. spokesperson said investigators had not ruled out terrorism.
Jordan’s state news agency, Petra, reported that the American convoy had disobeyed direct orders from Jordanian troops, which led to a deadly exchange of small-arms fire.
Jordan later pulled back that claim.
But in a letter dated March 6 from Jordanian ambassador Dina Kawar to U.S. Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, Kawar wrote that an investigation determined that the shooting was a “tragic accident” devoid of any terrorist intent and that Abu Tayeh had complied with rules of engagement.
“Abu Tayeh was tasked with swift response,” Kawar said, and fired toward the source of what he took to be gunshots coming from the Americans, “who in turn fired directly at Abu Tayeh, believing he was targeting them.”
“Abu Tayeh was badly injured in the incident.”
She also cited Abu Tayeh’s 14 years of service.
Chuck and Cindy Lewellen took the letter as a slap in the face. They and the other families received a briefing on Feb. 28 in Washington and said the surveillance video includes no noise that could have been mistaken for a gunshot.
The three families want Jordan to clear their sons of any wrongdoing and for the shooter to be punished. Lewellen knows, however, that Middle Eastern politics is complicated. Jordan allows the United States a military presence in the country.
“Would I say that Congress is going full-bore to help us — no, probably not,” he said. “But I want Jordan to know that I know what happened. Now, it’s up to them.”
Poe called the killings an “ambush” and called on Jordan to come clean about the shooter’s motives.
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