anti-American protesters, a.k.a. enemy forces.
Local people, including the head of the main hospital in the town, told Reuters that at least 13 people were killed and about 75 wounded when soldiers occupying a school fired on about 200 people staging a peaceful protest against the American presence.
peaceful protests always include AK47s, of course /sarcasm.
They do here in Israel. They bus in the kids from school to toss rocks and then set up snipers behind them. It is the classic Palestinian Parade.
My suggestion is give a public commendation to the Soldiers for supressing enemy fire and if it happens again open up with grenade launchers at the snipers. The rock tossing shields will quickly learn to not stand near the snipers. At that point when you see the rock tossers scatter from a spot it will show you where to find the sniper. I do not care if the weapon is a pea shooter, who ever attacks our troops in hostile territory needs to be mowed down post haste. If you do not, they will attack you with rocks and snipers every day.
If some whiner comes up and complains that 15 "protesters" were killed in the cross fire the commander should say "Is that all?! Damn gun jammed... Result, next day no rock parade. Don't let this turn into a media circus like Israel. Kill the bastards and let allah sort them out. You do not know that that is a rock until it does not go off. The next one may be a grenade. Don't mess around guys.