Iraqi Air Force to receive initial batch of F-16 jets in 2014

The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) will take delivery of its initial batch of F-16 C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighter jets in the next two years, US officials have revealed.
Speaking on the eve of US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff general Martin Dempsey's visit to Baghdad, officials told Agence France Presse that the first batch of F-16's are scheduled for delivery in September 2014.
Iraq is set to receive 18 two-seat aircraft, including 12 C and six D models, along with engines and support equipment from Lockheed Martin, as part of a $199m contract awarded by the US Department of Defense (DoD) in July 2012.
The US agreed last year to sell a total of 36 F-16 fighters to Iraq under two separate $4.2bn and $2.3bn foreign military sale (FMS) deals, which were announced in September 2010 and December 2011.


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Dempsey: US 'Frustrated' By Delay In Program To Equip Iraqi Forces

(RTTNews) - The visiting Pentagon chief has said that the United States is frustrated by delays in the foreign military sales program to equip the Iraqi security forces.
Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin E. Dempsey on Tuesday met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Iraqi counterpart Gen. Zebari Babakir and discussed about the United States' efforts to equip and train Iraqi security forces via the Office of Security Cooperation Iraq.
More than 225 U.S. troops, seven Defense Department civilians, 530 security assistance team members and more than 4,000 contracted personnel are currently in the office at the Iraqi government's invitation.
Dempsey told reporters in Baghdad that "all sides - including the U.S. Army chief of the office at the American Embassy, Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen - are frustrated by delays in some aspects of the foreign military sales program."


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US 'spent more than $200 million on unwanted Iraqi police training'

Students from the Iraqi Federal Police perform a demonstration drill during their graduation ceremony in Baghdad  Photo: AFP/GETTY

 The Police Development Programme (PDP), the largest of its kind, was a five-year project designed to boost Iraqi security forces when US troops left the country last December.

It had been pitted as the centrepiece for America’s ongoing reconstruction effort in the region.

Included in the plans, was a bid to turn over the $108 million Baghdad Police College Annex to Iraqis by the end of the year and an end to training at a $98 million site at the US consulate in the southern city of Basra. Additionally, the number of advisers was to be cut by nearly 90 per cent – from 350 to 36.

But diplomats at the American embassy in Baghdad, who were tasked with implementing the programme, failed to receive written commitment from Iraq to participate, a report by the Special Inspector General for Iraqi Reconstruction said, leading inspectors to query whether the $200 million initiative was wanted or needed.

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Syrian Refugees Stream Into Iraq, Reversing Flow of Previous Years

Iraq's Anbar province has formed a crisis cell to regulate the entry of Syrian refugees to the border area of ​​Qaim. Nineveh Province also announced yesterday [25 July] that it had received its first displaced Syrian family.

About this Article

Summary: Years after Iraqi refugees streamed into Syria seeking shelter from violence, the flow has reversed, with Syrians fleeing their own conflict to relatively calm Iraq. Omar Sattar reports that government officials in the Nineveh and Anbar provinces are calling for new procedures for refugees, and Nouri al-Maliki has offered his private jet to fly Iraqis home. Publisher: Al-Hayat (Pan Arab) Original Title: Anbar Forms Crisis Cell to Receive Syrian Refugees Author: Omar Sattar Published on: Thursday, Jul 26, 2012 Translated On: Thursday, Jul 26, 2012 Translator: Naria Tanoukhi Categories : Reports / Studies Iraq   Syria

Othman Tamir, mayor of the town of Rawa, said in a statement, “During our visit to the border crossing at Qaim, we observed the entry of around 400 Syrian refugees. The entry process was unorganized and did not facilitate the affairs of the refugees.”
Tamir added, “International law defines [forced] displacement, alongside ways to deal with it and the responsibilities incumbent upon the international community.” He noted that “following standard [entry] procedures with refugees, as if they were ordinary travelers, is not right or acceptable,” adding, “First, we suggest that the names of the refugees be registered on special lists, after which they should head directly to buses to be transferred to the refugee camp.” He expressed hope that “things would go more smoothly,” calling on humanitarian organizations to “contribute to solving this serious humanitarian crisis.”


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Al-Qaida in Iraq Threatens US Attacks

The militant group al-Qaida in Iraq is threatening to launch an attack on the United States, security officials said.
The group said in a message this week marking the start of Ramadan it intended to strike at the "heart" of the United States.
"You will soon witness how attacks will resound in the heart of your land, because our war with you has now started," said a man that identified himself as Abu Bakr Baghdadi, the pseudonym used by the head of the group.

This particular branch of al-Qaida, which has primarily focused on attacking U.S. forces in Iraq, as well as Iraq's Shiite-led government, has become stronger in the last year with the help of cash from wealthy benefactors and now appears to be plotting attacks on U.S. soil, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.


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Iraq To Get Radars, Radio Systems And Utility Vehicles Worth $428 Million

      Iraq has requested the U.S for the sale of 12 Firefinder Radars and associated equipment for an estimated cost of $428 million.

      The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of 6 AN/TPQ-36(V)11 Firefinder Radar Systems, 6 AN/TPQ-37(V)9 Firefinder Radars, 3 Meteorological Measuring Sets, 86 AN/VRC-92 export variant Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems, 12 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems, 3 Improved Position and Azimuth Determining Systems, 63 M1152A1 and 3 M1151A1 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, 12 M1083A1 Family of Medium Tactical Utility Vehicles, government furnished equipment, common hardware and software and communication support equipment.


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Qaeda says Iraq bloodshed marks new campaign

Al-Qaeda's front group in Iraq said Wednesday that a wave of attacks that killed 113 days earlier marked the launch of a new offensive, as officials said seven people died in new unrest.
The spate of violence nationwide on Monday, which also wounded more than 250 people, was the worst to hit Iraq in more than two and a half years and shattered a relative calm that had held in the lead-up to the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
On Wednesday, the Islamic State of Iraq claimed the attacks in a statement posted on jihadist forum Honein.

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Al-Qaida claims responsibility for Iraq killings

BAGHDAD (AP) -- An al-Qaida affiliate group in Iraq has claimed responsibility for Monday's wave of attacks that killed 115 people across the country and wounded hundreds others.

In a statement posted Wednesday on a militant website, the Islamic State of Iraq said the "blessed foray" marked the beginning of a campaign it calls "Breaking the Walls," announced last week by the local insurgency's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Al-Baghdadi said that his network's aim was to rebuild tribal alliances in order to make a comeback in Sunni areas from which it had retreated in 2007-2008.

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Initial F-16 Order Placed for Iraqi Air Force

The Pentagon has placed the initial order for 18 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets for the Iraqi Air Force.
The $199 million fixed-price contract is the first installment of what could be a $4.2 billion sale of fighter aircraft, engines, weapons and support equipment that was originally announced in September 2010.
Iraq is purchasing 12 C-model, single-seat and six D-model, two-seat F-16s.

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Iraq allows in Syrian refugees in change of heart

Iraq had previously said it would not accept any Syrian refugees and sealed off its border points to all those wanting to cross, except for Iraqi citizens fleeing the violence in Syria. (Reuters)

 

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Monday instructed Iraq’s security forces and Red Crescent to allow in Syrian refugees and provide them with support, reversing an earlier decision.

“The prime minister directed Iraqi forces and police and the Iraqi Red Crescent to receive Syrian refugees and help them and provide them with services,” state broadcaster Iraqiya television said.

Iraq had previously said it would not accept any Syrian refugees and sealed off its border points to all those wanting to cross, except for Iraqi citizens fleeing the violence in Syria.

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Wave of attacks kills more than 100 across Iraq

Updated at 9:40 a.m. ET: BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A wave of bombings and an attack on an Iraqi military base killed more than 100 people on Monday. The death toll made it the bloodiest day of the year in the country, The Associated Press reported.
In addition to those killed, at least 268 other people were wounded by bombings and shootings in Shiite areas of Baghdad, the town of Taji to the north, the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul and many other places, hospital and police sources told Reuters.
The bloodshed, which coincided with an intensifying of the conflict in neighboring Syria, pointed up the deficiencies of the Iraqi security forces, which failed to prevent insurgents from striking in multiple locations across the country.

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Bulgaria has signed a contract for the sale of 500 MT-LB multirole tracked armoured vehicles to Iraq.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has negotiated a deal for the supply of 500 MT-LB armored vehicles to Iraq. Decision to sign the contract was made on May, 31, 2012 in the presence of Sadoun al-Dulaimi, Iraqi acting Minister of Defence at Hemus 2012 International Defense and Security exhibition.

A Bulgarian MT-LB multirole tracked armoured vehicle at Defence Exhibition HEMUS 2012

After the exhibition opening Borisov informed that the cost of the vehicles to be supplied to Iraq shall amount to around 300,000 levs per unit and total cost of the contract shall amount to 150 mln levs (appr. USD 77 mln). He also mentioned that MTLB APCs were produced at Terem plant in Tyrgovishte town and one MTLB will be sent to Iraq to undergo trials. Borisov also said that 36 mln euro deal for supply of special-purpose Kintex equipment from Bulgaria to Algeria will be completed soon. In addition he offered Liu Sheng, deputy Director of People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department to purchase ball ammunition. Borisov joked that one bullet for each Chinese soldier would be enough. Bulgarian prime-minister called on all countries present at the exhibition to purchase Bulgarian weapon systems, he underlined that they have never received any quality reclamation. Prime contractor for MTLB to Iraq will be Terem-Khan Krum tank repair plant, Tyrgovishte, Bulgaria. The plant is a part of Terem EAD association which is subordinated to Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria. The MT-LB is a Russian-made light multirole tracked armoured vehicle but it was produced under license in many countries. The vehicle was produced in Russia of late 1960's. The MT-LB can be used as artilery tractor or armoured personnel carrier but also for other tasks, there is more than 80 variants of the MT-LB. Source : http://www.armyrecognition.com