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US-led coalition drone crashes in northern Iraq - Anadolu Agency

This article has been reviewed according to ScienceX's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

reputable news agency

proofread

by Asaad Niazi, with Guillaume Decamme in Baghdad

Iraqi archaeological marvels that have survived millennia and the ravages of war now face a modern threat: being blasted and slowly buried by sandstorms linked to climate change.

Ancient Babylonian treasures, painstakingly unearthed, are slowly disappearing again under wind-blown sand in a land parched by rising heat and prolonged droughts.

Iraq, one of the countries worst-hit by climate change, endured a dozen major sandstorms last year that turned the sky orange, brought daily life to a halt and left its people gasping for air.

When the storms clear, layers of fine sand cover everythingincluding the Sumerian ruins of Umm al-Aqarib, "the Mother of Scorpions", in the southern desert province of Dhi Qar.

Sandstorms have slowly begun to reverse years of work there to unearth the temples' terracotta facades and many priceless artifacts, said archaeologist Aqeel al-Mansrawi.

Archaeologists in Iraq have always had to shovel sand, but now the volumes are growing.

After a decade of worsening storms, sand at Umm al-Aqarib now "covers a good part of the site", that dates back to around 2350 BC and spans more than five square kilometers, he said.

In the past, the biggest threat was looting of antiquities at the ruins, where pottery fragments and clay tablets bearing ancient cuneiform script have been discovered. The Umm al-Aqarib archaeological site in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province: the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers hosted some of the world's earliest civilisations.

Now the changing weather and its impact on the land, especially creeping desertification, spell an additional threat to ancient sites all across southern Iraq, said Mansrawi.

"In the next 10 years," he said, "it is estimated that sand could have covered 80 to 90 percent of the archaeological sites."

The fabled land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers hosted some of the world's earliest civilisations, the remains of which are under threat in modern-day Iraq.

The oil-rich country is still recovering from decades of dictatorship, war and insurgency and remains plagued by misrule, corruption and widespread poverty.

Compounding its woes, Iraq is also one of the five countries most impacted by some effects of climate change, including drought, says the United Nations. Archaeologists in Iraq have always had to shovel sand, but now the volumes are growing.

Upstream dams in Turkey and Iraq have reduced the flow of its big rivers, and more water is wasted by Iraq's ancient irrigation system and outdated farming practices.

Summer temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) now often batter Iraq where droughts have parched agricultural areas, driving farmers and pastoralists into crowded cities.

"The sandstorms became more frequent, the wind became dustier and the temperatures increase," said Jaafar al-Jotheri, professor of archaeology at Iraq's Al Qadisiyah University.

"The soil has become more fragile and fragmented because of the lack of vegetation and roots," he explained.

As more farmers flee the countryside, "their land is left behind and abandoned and its soil becomes more exposed to the wind".

Winds pick up "more sediment fragments that reach the archaeological sites", Jotheri said, adding that the "sand and silt cause physical weathering and disintegration of buildings". The problems at Umm al-Aqarib are compounded by salinisation, when water evaporates so quickly that the soil does not reabsorb the crystals, which are left behind as a crust.

The problem is compounded by salinisation, said Mark Altaweel, professor of Near East Archaeology at University College London.

During extreme heat, he explained, water on the land surface evaporates so quickly that the soil does not reabsorb the crystals, which are left behind as a crust. Archaeologist Aqeel Mansarawi warns changing weather and its impact on the land spell an additional threat to ancient sites all across southern Iraq.

"When it's hyper dry, the water quickly evaporates and that leaves that salt residue," he said, adding that "you can see it on the bricks".

Jotheri said that salt in the earth carried by sandstorms causes "chemical weathering for archaeological buildings".

Iraqi authorities insist they are tackling the complex and multi-layered problem.

The government "is working to contain the sand dunes", said Chamel Ibrahim, director of antiquities of Dhi Qar province.

He pointed to a plan to plant a "green belt" of trees at a cost of about $3.8 million. An aerial view of an ancient structure at the Umm al-Aqarib archaeological site, which is frequently buried by sandstorms due to desertification.

But Jotheri voiced doubt, saying that to keep the vegetation alive, "you need a lot of water".

When it comes to climate change, he said, "we are the country facing the most and acting the least. We are at the bottom of the list in terms of acting against climate change."

Read the rest here:
Iraq's ancient treasures sand-blasted by climate change - Phys.org

SAN DIEGO Former U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. is making national headlines again, this time for a deadly, friendly-fire incident in 2004 during the Iraq war.

Hunter is the focus of a new NPR podcast, Taking Cover, a seven-part series of investigative reports.

NPR investigative producer, Graham Smith, and NPR pentagon correspondent, Tom Bowman, spent three years chasing down information in the case.

Bowman said it all began as a tip he received from a reliable source, who told him about a friendly-fire mortar strike that killed two marines and an Iraqi interpreter inside a schoolhouse in Fallujah.

Were sitting in a whiskey bar in Washington, DC and he said there was this friendly-fire incident back in 2004, during the first battle of Fallujah, and it was covered up because the son of a powerful politician was involved. That politician was Duncan Hunter Sr., then chairman of the Armed Services Committee, recalled Bowman.

Duncan Hunter Sr. and Duncan Hunter Jr. are both former U.S. congressmen from the East County.

In 2004, Duncan Hunter Jr. was a Marine lieutenant in Fallujah, Iraq, stationed in a control center, involved in making decisions on where to fire mortars at enemy positions, the podcasters said.

We have the investigative report that we got from the widow of one of the men who was killed. It has a statement written by Duncan Hunter [Jr.], where he says he plotted this target on the map, he pushed in a yellow pin at the spot of the target near the schoolhouse, said Smith.

For three years, the families of the men killed didn't know the incident was the result of friendly fire.

It's like it never happened. And so, we started digging into it. We went to the Marines and said, have you investigated this? And the Marines said, we can't find any mention of this in any investigative report, said Bowman.

None of the officers involved, including Duncan Hunter Jr. were disciplined, according to the NPR report.

The bottom line is, he [Hunter] got away scot-free. He was never punished in any way. Those who were punished, those punishments were brushed aside by a general named Jim Mattis, who later of course, became defense secretary under President Trump," Bowman said.

The investigation revealed mistakes were made in mapping out the target of the mortar attack and the location of Marines nearby, and strongly implies there was a government cover-up of the incident because the son of a congressman was involved.

Duncan Hunter Jr. was involved here. And one of the big questions is, why wasnt he cited at all?, Bowman said.

CBS 8 reached out to Duncan Hunter Sr., and Jr., but they did not respond to messages seeking comment.

WATCH RELATED: Former CA Rep. Duncan Hunter gets 11-month sentence in campaign misappropriation case (2020).

See the article here:
NPR: Duncan Hunter Jr. involved in friendly-fire deaths in Iraq - CBS News 8

Baghdad, April 2023: The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Japan are proud to announce their collaboration on the "Emergency livelihood support to mitigate the food insecurity crisis among vulnerable people in Iraq" project. This project is part of Japan's long-running support through the Japanese Supplementary Budget to the Iraqi people.

The project will enhance sustainable livelihood opportunities and food security in Iraq and builds on the foundation of previous projects supported by the Japanese Government and UNIDO to strengthen resilience and employability.

The project will address the critical issue of food insecurity by revitalizing traditional food processing industries in Nineveh and Duhok Governorates, which have been heavily impacted by the ongoing crisis in Iraq. The project will also target internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to scale-up domestic and household-level food production and support the transition from subsistence to self-reliance.

As part of the project, UNIDO will provide hands-on training and market-oriented growth guidance to MSMEs producing traditional food products with business and food safety and hygiene training. This will help to strengthen the capacities of communities to address the lack of livelihoods, dependence on food imports, significantly decreased income, and increased food prices. In addition, UNIDO will also support the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Agriculture in these governorates and non-government institutions to provide training and extension services to the MSMEs producing traditional food products.

The project directly contributes and promotes women's economic empowerment through income generating activities and livelihood opportunities. Women who are extensively involved in agricultural activities, food processing, and preservation will be provided training for improved business management, tools, and equipment as well as extension services.

The emergency livelihood support project is aligned with the overall country's strategy to support longer-term development objectives in rural areas. The project will contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people, particularly women, in Iraq.

We recognize that there are still tremendous basic needs of vulnerable groups including IDPs, returnees and refugees in Nineveh and Duhok. I commend UNIDO for its tireless efforts to respond to those peoples needs, said Mr. MASAMOTO Kenichi, Charge d' Affaires ad interim, the Embassy of Japan in Iraq.

I trust that UNIDO will improve the peoples livelihood in Nineveh and Duhok backed by the coordination with the authorities and communities of these governorates, through completing this project and making use of UNIDOs excellent expertise added Mr. Kenichi.

UNIDO and the Government of Japan are committed to continue their long-running support to Iraq and its people through projects that foster sustainable development and promote economic growth.

For more information, please contact:

Eduardo Moreira, International Project Coordinator

e.ferreiradesamoreira@unido.org

See the original post here:
UNIDO and Government of Japan collaborate on Sustainable ... - ReliefWeb

TOM BOWMAN, HOST:

Heads up - this podcast deals with war. You'll be hearing graphic descriptions in the aftermath of battle and strong language.

GRAHAM SMITH, HOST:

Previously on TAKING COVER...

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: In the case of Lance Corporals Shuder and Zurheide, that incident in 12 April, that was not even in accordance with our regulation.

DAVID COSTELLO: Why did they lie to the families, and why are they still lying? They know - somebody knows what happened. Why don't we know?

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MICK WAGONER: I agree with your suspicions. They were protecting Duncan Hunter, protecting the Marine Corps from potential bad blood with his dad at the time. They knew who he was.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

BILL SKILES: So the assumption on my part was that we did the right f***ing thing at the higher levels. Who will ever take accountability to say it's my fault, I apologize?

SMITH: That last voice there - it's Bill Skiles, Retired Sergeant Major Bill Skiles. Remember, he helped evacuate casualties from the schoolhouse. And his questions about accountability - well, we know from the investigative report that in this case, nobody was held accountable. And here's something even worse - Brad's sister told us the Marines made a promise to her parents - that their son's death would make a difference, that they'd learn the lessons.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

BOWMAN: Skiles and others told us the Marine investigation wasn't shared with the men of Echo Company back in 2004, not even with the officer who called in the mission. So if they didn't see the investigation, did anyone learn the lessons? One general told us this should be taught at the officer training schools.

(SOUNDBITE OF FOOTSTEPS)

BOWMAN: We decided to find out if that's happening.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: This is Graham Smith.

COREY: How's it going? Corey (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: This is Tom Bowman.

BOWMAN: Tom Bowman.

MATT: Hey. Matt (ph). Nice to meet you, Graham.

BOWMAN: Tom.

MATT: Tom, nice to meet you.

BOWMAN: This is Range 7 - Marine Corps Base Quantico, just outside D.C. This is where every young officer comes to learn the basics of combat. Today, they're learning how to call in an 81-millimeter mortar - the same kind of round that hit the schoolhouse.

MATT: Who we're working with here today is the entry-level students for the basic officer course, right? What they've received up to this point is their platform instruction on the call for indirect fire.

SMITH: We were told to wear body armor and helmets.

(SOUNDBITE OF FOOTSTEPS)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: So we're f***ing ready.

MATT: Sick.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: They got all their stuff. Just tell us where to be when.

MATT: OK. What are you guys looking to capture?

BOWMAN: Just walk us through how you call for fires. How do you check, double-check?

SMITH: A couple of dozen Marines are stretched out along a line looking down into a barren valley. Some trainees are flat on their stomachs, looking through binoculars and giving orders to enlisted men who stand near crates of mortars, dropping them into tubes. They're trying to hit some banged-up targets about a half-mile away.

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE #1: Eighty-one. One gun. One round and adjust. Remainder in effect. Target number Alpha, Bravo, 1-0-0-3. How copy?

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE #2: We copy you.

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE #3: So how close are you OK with them getting to...

(SOUNDBITE OF GUNFIRE)

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE #3: OK.

(SOUNDBITE OF METAL CLANGING)

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE #3: Let's go on the far side so we're not in between the gun line and them.

(SOUNDBITE OF FOOTSTEPS)

BOWMAN: They talk with us about calling in mortar missions, when to specify danger close so you don't kill your own people. So did they learn about the mistake at the schoolhouse in Fallujah?

What about - I mean, now, Iraq and Afghanistan are sort of historical now. I mean, did you study mortar emplacement, mortar use in Iraq and Afghanistan? Any friendly fire incidents over there that you study as part of your course?

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE #3: Nothing in particular in Iraq, Afghanistan that we studied in the courses I've been to.

BOWMAN: None of these men - not the students, not the instructors - have ever heard about it. When this incident was buried, any possible lessons - they were buried, too. I'm Tom Bowman.

SMITH: And I'm Graham Smith. This is TAKING COVER from NPR.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SMITH: In today's episode, the higher levels Bill Skiles talked about - it's called the chain of command - the officers who make the decisions, give the orders. For our investigation, for what we're trying to understand, they're the ones who should know what happened. They may even be the ones who buried it. We're going to talk to them - or at least try. Now, keep in mind, none of these men have any idea what we've already learned. They don't know we got a tip about a cover-up, that we have a copy of the report or that we know about Duncan Hunter's involvement.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

BOWMAN: Our search for answers about this deadly friendly fire in Fallujah started, in a way, at the Pentagon. And today, that's where Graham and I are.

GREGG OLSON: Tom, good to see you.

BOWMAN: Good to see you.

OLSON: All good?

BOWMAN: Yeah. Graham Smith.

SMITH: Graham Smith.

OLSON: Hi, Graham. I assume that all your recording stuff has been...

BOWMAN: Cleared? Oh, yeah.

OLSON: ...Cleared and all that?

BOWMAN: Yeah.

OLSON: OK.

BOWMAN: The first link in that chain? It's the officer who approved the tragic mortar mission nearly two decades ago. Gregg Olson was a lieutenant colonel then, commanding a battalion of more than 700 men in Fallujah, Iraq. He's now a three-star general, an aide to the Marines top officer - the commandant.

SMITH: We told him we wanted to talk about that spring in 2004.

OLSON: Yeah. So are we doing a voice piece for NPR, or are we doing a written piece for publication?

SMITH: This will be - this will ultimately end up, I think, probably part of a podcast.

BOWMAN: We tell him we're specifically interested in the friendly fire that killed two Marines from his battalion on April 12, and we hand him a copy of the investigative report Elena Zurheide gave us.

SMITH: It's obvious that he hasn't seen it for a long time.

BOWMAN: Talk us through that. How did that happen?

OLSON: You know, as I said, my recollection of this is a little fuzzy. You might get a better interview if you let me read this.

SMITH: Yeah. If you - again, I know there's a statement from you - like, there's a lot of redactions. But...

BOWMAN: Yeah. So...

SMITH: We managed to sort of...

OLSON: I thought we were going to talk about contractors and, you know, the events of 31 March to 1 May. If we're going to dive right into this, I need to do some refresh.

SMITH: Sure.

We settled into talking about the deployment for a while.

OLSON: We were on the streets of Fallujah as early as the 26, 27 of March.

SMITH: But since he wasn't ready to talk about the incident in detail, we didn't yet raise the name Duncan Hunter Jr. Remember; he's the congressman's son. And we've been told he's the reason this incident was covered up. Anyhow, the meeting wraps up pretty quick.

BOWMAN: All right. Again, thanks.

OLSON: OK, Tom.

BOWMAN: Appreciate it. OK.

OLSON: Graham, thanks.

SMITH: It was good to meet you.

OLSON: Yeah, I'll dig through this and refresh my memory.

BOWMAN: OK.

OLSON: This is probably the most valuable thing.

BOWMAN: Yeah.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

BOWMAN: We didn't know what to think. We weren't sure whether he'd really give us another interview. After all, his old boss, Colonel John Toolan, recommended discipline for Olson over the friendly fire incident. We need answers about exactly what happened. Could Olson tell us? Could Toolan? How about the officers above them at the time? Got to say, we were a little surprised when we got a message back from General Olson about a month later. He was ready to talk again, so - back to the building.

OLSON: Good to see you.

BOWMAN: Good to see you.

SMITH: Good to see you again.

OLSON: I had a chance to get out to Illinois and collect some contemporaneous notes.

SMITH: Wow.

OLSON: So...

BOWMAN: Oh, wow.

OLSON: So between that and the investigation, which I recall - after reading it, I recall seeing it when General Mattis handed it to me on a very hot day in August of 2004 and said, read this. And then he sat me down and talked to me. So...

BOWMAN: OK. So we have, like, a half hour, I guess, right?

OLSON: I've got to hard stop at 8:25 because...

BOWMAN: OK.

OLSON: ...I have to reset for another meeting.

BOWMAN: So I guess we'll just get right into it. You know, what happened here? How was there a friendly fire incident? What happened in the...

OLSON: Yeah, it was absolutely a mistake of fact. By the 12 of April, we'd been in contact pretty much continuously for about nine days. So what happened is we came out of our evening orders group. During that day, we had gotten a fragmentary order to conduct a cordon and knock.

Read the original here:
Marine brass grapples with Iraq friendly fire procedural failures ... - NPR