 On 11 August the villagers were ordered to leave the police post and return to their homes , which they began to do with some reluctance . As they were heading back Iraqi soldiers in armoured cars arrived , and the Iraqi flag flying over the police post was pulled down . Without warning or obvious provocation , the troops began to fire indiscriminately against the defenseless Assyrians . Ismael Abbawi Tohalla , the commanding officer , then ordered his troops not to target women . Stafford , describes the ensuing massacre as follows : 
