Iraqi general testifies Navy SEAL Edward ‘Eddie’ Gallagher didn’t harm the teen ISIS fighter he is accused of killing

An Iraqi general whose forces partnered with American troops during a 2017 U.S. deployment to Mosul was shown in video testimony Thursday, June 27, saying he was at a teen ISIS fighter’s side and never saw Navy SEAL Edward “Eddie” Gallagher do anything but try to save the boy’s life.

Gallagher is on trial for the pre-meditated murder of the teen fighter, as well as other war crimes including posing for a photograph with the boy’s body while he and other SEALs held a reenlistment ceremony, and shooting two non-combatants during the deployment.

Gallagher, who served as a medic, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“I was in position until the bad guy died,” Gen. Abbas al-Jubouri said in the testimony recorded June 3.

In the video affidavit shown in a San Diego courtroom, the general said he handed the 17-year-old prisoner — previously said to be 15 — over to the Navy SEALS. He described himself as being on the left side of the boy and said he did not see Gallagher harm him.

“They did a lot of things to survive him,” he said. “They did their best.”

Later on Thursday, Marine Staff Sgt. Georgio Kirylo testified in the court-martial that he did not see stab wounds on the neck of the teen when he moved the body for a “trophy” photo.

But last week, two Navy SEALS testified they saw Gallagher plunge a knife into the neck of the teen, who was being treated for injuries. Special Warfare Operator Corey Scott, who later said it was he who killed the teen fighter by holding his thumb over his breathing tube, also testified that he saw Gallagher stab the boy.

Scott’s story paralleled that of Navy Special Warfare Operator Craig Miller, who on Wednesday testified he was an eyewitness to the stabbing.

Gallagher, 40, a highly decorated special warfare operations chief who has served eight deployments, was arrested Sept. 11, 2018, while undergoing a medical screening at Camp Pendleton’s Intrepid Spirit Center.

He faces seven counts that include premeditated murder and attempted murder related to his 2017 deployment to Iraq.