One of Michael Yon’s best posts was a piece published in February called “The Hands of God” about an Iraqi north of Mosul who spotted a suicide bomber on his way towards a mosque and did the only thing he could to stop him — grabbed him tight and held on while the button was pushed. No telling if that was the first time something like that had happened, but we know now that it wasn’t the last.

An Iraqi man saved the lives of four U.S. Soldiers and eight civilians when he intercepted a suicide bomber during a Concerned Citizens meeting in the town of al-Arafia Aug. 18.

The incident occurred while Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, were talking with members of the al-Arafia Concerned Citizens, a volunteer community group, at a member’s house…

The citizen’s actions saved the lives of four U.S. Soldiers and eight civilians…

“He could have run behind us or away from us, but he made the decision to sacrifice himself to protect everyone. Having talked with his father, I was told that even if he would have known the outcome before hand, he wouldn’t have acted differently.”

Capt. Brian Gilbert, of Boise, Idaho, the commander of Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to 3-1 Cavalry, echoed Kane’s sentiment.

“I spoke with the father,” Gilbert said. “He said he has no remorse in his son’s death because he died saving American Soldiers.”

Here’s some background on the “Concerned Citizens” via an MNF dispatch from last week. The language is carefully worded but it sounds like they’re former insurgents.