Stars and Stripes reports that “the United States Marine Corps is conducting a formal investigation into an incident in which Marines are allegedly shown defiling the bodies of what appear to be dead Iraqi insurgents.”

“Entertainment news website TMZ obtained 41 pictures they reported were shot in Fallujah in 2004, and made the Defense Department aware of them last week.”

“Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told Stars and Stripes that he has seen the photos, confirmed that they appear to show U.S. servicemembers, and alerted U.S. Central Command, which had not seen the photos.”

“The U.S. Marine Corps is investigating, Warren said.”

TMZ posts the photos, with a warning, calling them “graphic.”