Coalition jet fighters shot down an Iranian drone that was hovering over Iraq late last month, Multinational Force Iraq officials confirmed today.

The incident occurred Feb. 25, about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad, officials said in a statement.

Two coalition aircraft were directed to visually identify the unmanned aerial vehicle after it was detected hovering inside the Iraqi border. The pilots confirmed that it wasn’t a coalition aircraft and that no collateral damage would result from a shoot-down. Coalition air forces tracked the UAV for more than an hour before the pilots engaged it, officials said.

“This was not an accident on the part of the Iranians,” officials said. “The UAV was in Iraqi airspace for nearly one hour and 10 minutes and well inside Iraqi territory before it was engaged.”

Officials said they believe the drone to be an Iranian-made Ababil 3 model UAV.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and military leaders have long accused Iran of interference in Iraq. Iran poses “a real problem,” Gates said on PBS’ “Tavis Smiley Show” March 11.

“I think it’s one of the significant challenges that we’re going to face over the next several years,” he said.

DoD
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Read the true story of a firefight in Iraq, from one of the heroes involved.

Ed Malone remembers they had gone out for a “knock and greet” patrol that day in June. About half the platoon went, to meet up with Iraqi security forces advised by an Army National Guard team. They were going to patrol the Sarai District in the city of Tal Afar, Iraq.

June 25, 2005 was just another day for the 3rd ACR. They were taking over responsibility for the region from a departing Army unit and they had already learned that patrolling Tal Afar mean a fight every time. Malone was the first sergeant of Grim Troop, 2nd Squadron,
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. This was his second tour in Iraq.

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Approximately 30 people gathered for the grand opening of the Tovo Medical Clinic Feb. 12 in the Kani Karweshkan foothills, located in Halabja, Iraq.

The clinic opened in honor of Brig. Gen. Kenneth Tovo, in recognition of his past service in Iraq

The facility will be equipped with more than $25,000 of medical equipment and will help significantly improve the region’s medical care and provide essential services throughout the Kurdish autonomous region, said a Coalition forces advisor.

The clinic provides nearly 500 residents from six surrounding village’s access to a medical facility and the medical services of a staff of three full-time doctors. The location of the clinic also increases the chances of survivability by providing people in a community, where vehicular transportation is scarce, access because of the clinic’s central location. Access results in more immediate care, so patients can be stabilized before they are moved to another medical facility, if more specialized care is necessary.

“Most of the trauma cases we see are due to snake and scorpion bites to farmers working the fields,” said the regional tribal leader. “These patients can receive care immediately, lowering their chances of death.”

Potential long-term projects include paving the clinic route to make it more accessible, drilling wells to provide water to the clinic, establishing nearby electrical lines for communication, and expanding clinic services.

“The opening of this clinic is just one of several planned to promote local participation and demonstrate the government’s commitment to maintaining security while encouraging social and capital development, said Col. Bill Buckner, spokesman for the Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “Projects like this one create short-term benefits and long-term potential consistent with the intended goals of the Iraqi and CF partnership. Short-term, the clinic makes medical care for potentially fatal illnesses and injuries more accessible.”

A KRG representative reiterated that commitment, saying, “Give me a list of everything the staff needs, whether it is equipment, medications or supplies, and I will take care of it,” he told the head tribal leader. “Coalition forces helped build the clinic, but it is our job to sustain it.”

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To improve the learning environment and overall welfare of about 35 elementary school students in Kani Mayor Village, Iraq, Feb. 12, Kurdish regional government leaders and U.S. Coalition forces opened the doors to a new, insolated, five-room schoolhouse, complete with instructor-living quarters.

Kurdish Regional Government leaders and Coalition forces inaugurated the first, permanent educational facility Feb. 12 in the mountainous region of Kani Mayor Village, Iraq.

The new school supports growing educational needs and serves as a platform for the future economic stability of the Kani Mayor Village and surrounding communities of Panjwin, Iraq.

“When decent schools are not available for their children, parents have traditionally packed up and moved from their villages to the city. After awhile, due to the exodus of people, the village’s economy begins to suffer,” said the tribal leader.

“By putting brick on brick, it is proof you are not only protecting our people from terrorists, but also caring for our children’s educational future,” said the regional education director. “Thank you for giving the children a place to study and have a future.”

The modern schoolhouse is fully equipped with five roomy classrooms, two bathrooms, new desks, textbooks and overhead lighting. Additionally, in an effort to attract and retain the most qualified educators, a separate building was constructed to serve as living quarters for the instructors.

Village children expressed sincere appreciation for the new facility to KRG leaders and were ecstatic to leave behind their temporary schoolhouse, which was a loaned-out chicken coop from one of the local farmers.

“It’s nice to finally be rid of that old school and not have to share (my new school) with chickens,” said a 13-year-old girl, who is excited to get back to school and continue her Arabic lessons.

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Nearly 1,350 students walked into two newly refurbished primary school buildings in Umm Qasr where, school city and Coalition officials dedicated the projects’ completion Feb. 19.

The two U.S. funded operations, totaling $271,100, outfitted the Al Nashaa and Al Marfaa schools with new paint, windows, electrical systems, plumbing, reconditioned bathrooms, roofs and desks.

Umm Qasr Mayor Salah Abdul Mahdy Habeeb, Director of Education Salem Kamel Arrayed, Director of Power and Utilities Ahmed Resan Sharhan, town council members, members of the Iraqi Marines, Coalition civil affairs representatives and school staff and students were on hand for the occasion.

“Today we open this school to be the future light for the students,” said Abu Ali, headmaster of Al Marfaa. “The first three words of the Koran means to ‘read.’ The scripture says it wants everyone to be educated. Education is the duty of every Muslim person.”

Many schools in Iraq are in poor condition because of a lack of upkeep, to include Umm Qasr. The schools here suffered from leaky roofs, broken windows and desks that were splintered and falling apart and other structural problems.

“Our main reason for these restorations was to provide the children with a safe learning environment,” said Sgt. Adam Kirschner, the project manager from 42nd Military Police Brigade at Camp Bucca.

He said these projects started when community members brought the issue of reconstruction to the town’s council. The city officials worked with Coalition civil affairs teams to create a proposal and form a contract.

Kirschner said that projects like these are important to the future of Umm Qasr because the town is growing rapidly due to the economic development generated by the country’s only deep-water port there in town.

“Last time we met, this school was in bad condition. This time we are meeting because the school is like new,” Habeeb said. “We were successful because of the cooperation between, the town’s people, the council and the Coalition forces.”

So far seven schools in the area have been refurbished in the last 12 months with help from Kirschner’s unit. He said that Umm Qasr Secondary School is next on the list and should start in about two weeks.

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