Iraq on Friday reiterated its commitment to securing the rights of families of an estimated 1,700 unarmed military cadets killed by ISIS in 2014, marking the anniversary of what is widely known as the Speicher massacre.

In a statement, Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi described June 12 as a day of “reverence and solemnity,” recalling what he called “one of the most heinous crimes in Iraq’s modern history.”

“This tragedy will remain a testament to the scale of criminality practiced by terrorism against our people,” he said, adding that the memory of the victims “will remain present in the conscience of all Iraqis” as a symbol of sacrifice and national unity against extremism.

Authorities also reported progress in recovering victims’ remains. According to officials, around 1,250 bodies have so far been exhumed and identified through DNA testing and handed over to their families, while others remain missing.

The Speicher massacre occurred on June 12, 2014, when ISIS militants overran Camp Speicher—an air academy near Tikrit in Salahaddin province. Thousands of unarmed cadets attempted to flee after the collapse of security in the region, but were captured by militants.

Reports indicate that victims were separated largely along sectarian lines and that an estimated 1,700 cadets, predominantly Shiite Muslims, were executed over several days. Many were shot near mass graves in the desert or along the banks of the Tigris River.

In a 2021 briefing to the United Nations Security Council, the UN’s investigative team into ISIS crimes stated that evidence supported findings of direct and public incitement to genocide against Shiite Muslims in relation to the massacre.

Iraqi lawmaker Moeen al-Kadhimi, head of the Speicher Martyrs Commemoration Committee, said efforts to recover remains are ongoing and that more than 150 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings. He added that 72 convicted individuals have been executed, while others remain in custody awaiting sentencing.