Meanwhile, a US Marine officer has been charged with assaulting three Iraqi civilians. Military prosecutors say Lt. Nathan Phan beat and choked the Iraqis and placed his gun in one of the victim’s mouth. The alleged incident took place in the town of Hamdania in April. Lt. Phan was the platoon leader for the troops who have been charged with the killing of an Iraqi man there, but he has not been charged in that case.