The United States occupation of Fallujah began in April 2003, one month following the beginning of the invasion of Iraq. In April 2003 United States forces fired on a group of unarmed demonstrators who protested against the invasion and occupation of their country. US forces alleged they were fired at first, but human rights groups who visited the site of the protests concluded that physical evidence did not corroborate their allegations and confirmed the residents' accusations that the US forces fired indiscriminately on Iraqis with no provocation. 17 people were killed and 70 were wounded. In a later incident, US soldiers fired on Falluhaji protesters again; Fallujah's mayor, Taha Bedaiwi al-Alwani, said that two people were killed and 14 wounded. Iraqi resistance fighters were able to c