Navy SEAL charged with murder of wounded ISIS fighter in Iraq

Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher is being charged by the Navy for allegedly murdering a wounded Islamic State fighter with a knife in Iraq, CNN reports.

The charges include multiple violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice during his 2017 deployment in Mosul, and he is also being accused of shooting at noncombatants, performing his re-enlistment ceremony next to a dead body, obstruction of justice, and drug possession for painkiller tramadol hydrochloride.

Gallagher also allegedly attempted to "discourage members of his platoon from reporting on his actions" once they were back on home soil, according to the report.

A charge sheet dated Friday alleges that Gallagher "did ... with premeditation, murder a wounded male person" under his care by "stabbing him in the neck and body with a knife" as the Navy SEAL fought against ISIS last year.

Gallagher was arrested Sept. 11 and held at San Diego’s Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar. He considered filing a civil rights lawsuit against Navy investigators after alleging that they "laid siege" to his home and marched his children out of the house during a probe.

Naval Special Warfare Command spokeswoman Cmdr. Tamara Lawrence said in a statement: "We train and operate in dynamic, complex and ambiguous environments and our operators are empowered and trusted to independently make difficult decisions during missions. They have consistently proven that their empowerment and trust is warranted. Allegations that indicate otherwise are, and will continue to be, investigated by the appropriate military and law enforcement authorities."