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A salute to our gallant allies in Iraq Editor's note: When we see current photos of our allies in Iraq, and it's been a while since we posted one from their country, we update this page to show how they are still hanging with us. Countries have left the Coalition. As of August 23, 2006, there were 22 non-US military forces contributing armed forces to the Coalition. Several countries are taloking about complete or partial withdrawals in 2007, including Denmark, Great Britain, and Republic of Korea. Lithuania has alrfeady withdrawn some. Withdrawals: While the forces of Coalition countries have served with distinction, we regret that the following decided to leave Iraq before the mission was accomplished. 2007: Slovakia 2006: Italy, Japan. 2005: Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore (token landing ship), Ukraine 2004: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Hungary, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Philippines, Thailand, Spain, Tonga
Obtaining allies in the war in Iraq has not been easy. Keeping them has not been easy either. But many women and men from other countries have served with us in Iraq, and still are serving. Regardless of what their politicians have done or are going to do about their continued presence there, these courageous soldiers deserve a salute from all Americans, all those who have come and gone, and those who remain. Albania
U.S. Special Forces Soldiers and Albanian troops patrol northern Iraq. Photo credit: Mike Buyta
Albanian commandos stand guard during a ceremony held at Mother Teresa airport in Tirana before they leave on a mission in Iraq in this October 11, 2004 file photograph. Photo credit: Arben Celi, Reuters Australia
Major Scott Watkins and his wife Karen, in London, November 2006 after receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross from Queen Elizabeth for heroism in Iraq. This is Britain's third-highest award. He is the first Australian to receive this honor since 1973. Assigned to the British One Regiment Army Air Corps, in November 2004 he flew a Lynx helicopter to support American troops assaulting Fallujah. While delivering supplies, enemy forces hit his helicopter, hitting his co-pilot, Captain Keith Reesby, in the chest perilously close to the heart. Watkins flew his helicopter less than 50 feet above the ground while under attack to get his co-pilot immediate medical attention. Reesby survived as a result. Photo credit: AP
Australian soldiers guard the area during a joint street patrol with Iraqi security forces in Samawah, south of Baghdad in Iraq on June 22, 2006. Australian forces in Iraq will be shifting to a more dangerous role that could expose them to combat with insurgents, Prime Minister John Howard said. Photo credit: Mohammed Jalil, AP
Australian soldiers secure an area in the Iraqi southern city of Samawa, February 2006. Photo credit: Ahmad Abdel, AFP
Australian Army Task Force's trooper Steven Maxwell, from Darwin, drives a light armored vehicle after disembarking from a C17 Australian Air Force transport plane at Ali Al Salem Air Base, 70 Km North West of Kuwait City on Sunday, April 17, 2005. The advance party from a contingent of 450 troops is on its way to Southern Iraq where they will train Iraqi military and provide force protection to Japanese military engineers working in Samawa. Photo credit: Gustavo Ferrari, AP
An advance party of 43 Australian soldiers, part of an additional troop commitment to Iraq, arrive at Ali AL-Salem Airbase in Kuwait April 17, 2005. They will be part of 450 troops who will arrive over coming weeks bound for southern Iraq to provide security services, bringing to 1,400 the number of Australian troops throughout Iraq. Photo credit: Stephanie McGehee, Reuters
A soldier with the Australian security detachment keeps watch as police investigate the scene of a grenade thrown 50 meters from an Australian army base in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, in this October 3, 2003 file photograph. Photo credit: Chris Helgren, Reuters
An Australian army soldier secures the area of his country's embassy in Baghdad following a suicide car bomb attack in this January 19, 2005. Photo credit: Ali Jasim, AFP
Australian soldiers guard the perimeter of the Australian embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. Australia and NATO on April 1 signed an agreement to boost cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, weapons proliferation and other global military threats. Photo credit: AFP
Australian Defense handout photo shows an Australian soldier on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. Photo credit: Australian MoD, AFP
An Australian army soldier stands guard at the scene of a suspected car bomb explosion in central Baghdad, in this May 25, 2004, file photograph. Photo credit: Ceerwan Aziz, AP Bosnia
Bosnian soldiers check their weapons before boarding a U.S. Army C17 transport plane at a departure ceremony at Sarajevo airport, Bosnia, June 1, 2005. A group of 36 Bosnian soldiers has been chosen for a de mining mission in Iraq after completing a special ordnance training in Bosnia. Photo credit: Amel Emric, AP
Bosnian soldiers walk toward a U.S. military plane at Sarajevo's airport June 1, 2005 as they leave for their mission in Iraq. Serbs, Croats and Muslims who completed training this month for the first army unit bringing together Bosnia's warring fractions of 10 years ago, left for Iraq to join U.S.-led coalition forces. Photo credit: Danilo Krstanovic, Reuters
Bosnian soldiers board a U.S. Army C-17 transport during departure from Sarajevo airport, Bosnia, on June 1, 2005. A group of 36 Bosnian soldiers has been chosen for a demining mission in Iraq after completing a special training in Bosnia. The team of Bosnian ordnance experts left for Iraq to join the U.S.-led force there. The contingent includes soldiers from all three Bosnian ethnic groups: Muslim Bosniaks, Catholic Croats and Orthodox Serbs. Photo credit: Hidajet Delic, AP Britain
British soldiers pass an Iraqi woman and child walking in the northern suburbs of the Iraqi city of Basra, January 7, 2007. Photo credit: Dave Clark, AFP
British soldiers take combat positions during a patrol in Basra in December 2006. Photo credit: Essam Al Sudani, AFP
A British soldier holds a weapon aboard an armoured vehicle while securing a road, after a roadside bomb attack targeting their patrol in Basra, 550 km (341miles) south of Baghdad, July 16, 2006. Two British soldiers were wounded in the attack. Photo credit: Atef Hassan, Reuters
British soliders patrol the waterways close to an oil terminal in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Photo credit: Essam al-Sudani, AFP
A British Army soldier takes cover while conducting a military security operation near Iraq's second largest city of Basra, February 26, 2005. Photo credit: Atef Hassan
British Army soldiers walk through a village while conducting a military security operation near Iraq's second largest city of Basra, February 26, 2005. Photo credit: Atef Hassan
A British soldier surveys the scene from the top of an armored vehicle after insurgents detonated a bomb in the west of Baghdad, killing two civilians who were passing by in a vehicle, in Iraq (news - web sites) Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005. Photo credit: Mohammed Uraibi, AP
A British soldier scans a street with his rifle during a patrol in Basra. Photo credit: Essam al-Sudani, AFP Bulgaria
Bulgarian army soldiers parade during send-off ceremony in the military base in town of Kazanlak some 200 kms.(125 miles) east of the capital Sofia Wednesday, March 29, 2006. Bulgaria decided in February to send a 120-strong non-combat unit on a one-year guarding mission to the Ashraf refugee camp north of Baghdad. The resolution opened the way for Bulgaria's return to the multinational forces in Iraq after the withdrawal of its troops in December. Photo credit: Petar Petrov, AP
Two Bulgarian soldiers stand guard in Karbala, Iraq. Photo credit: Robert Sullivan, AFP
Bulgarian army soldiers walk atop a military armoured vehicle at their camp in Diwaniya, southern Iraq, March 23, 2005. Photo credit: Imad al-Khuzaei , Reuters
A Bulgarian army officer (2nd R) chats with soldiers atop military armoured vehicles at a camp in Diwaniya, southern Iraq March 23, 2005. Photo credit: Imad al-Khuzaei , Reuters
Bulgarian troops leave for Iraq in August 2003. Photo credit: Dimitar Dilkoff, AFP Czech Republic
Czech military police supervise the training of Iraqi police instructors on a successful "training the trainers" course at Shaibah. Photo credit: UK MoD Denmark
Danish troops patrol the Iraqi southern town of al-Garma near the southern city of Basra. Photo credit: Essam al-Sudani, AFP
A convoy of Danish military vehicles drive past an Iraqi boy during a military security operation near Iraq's second largest city of Basra, February 26, 2005. Photo credit: Atef Hassan, Reuters
Danish army soldiers conduct a military security operation near Iraq's second largest city of Basra, February 26, 2005. Photo credit: Atef Hassan, Reuters
An Iraqi boy stands near a Danish army soldier having a meal during a military security operation near Iraq's second largest city of Basra, February 26, 2005. Photo credit: Atef Hassan, Reuters Dominican Republic: Withdrew early May 2004
A Dominican soldier embraces his girlfriend as he arrives at Americas International airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, following his tour in Iraq. Photo credit: AP/PTI Georgia
A Georgian serviceman kisses his son at a military base 5 km outside Tbilisi during a farewell ceremony as Georgian national flag flies in the background, March 1, 2005. Photo credit: Irakli Gedenidze, Reuters
Georgian army corporal Baduri Kvirkvelia holds his daughter Kvantsa during a farewell ceremony at the Vaziani military base, 28 kilometers (17 miles) east of the capital Tbilisi, Tuesday, March 1, 2005. A crowd of more than 1,000, including the servicemen's parents, wives, and children, came to the base to see off the troops, headed for Iraq, in a color-filled ceremony, which included singing of the national anthem and parading the national flag. Photo credit: Shakh Aivazov, AP
Georgian soldiers hold national flag during a farewell ceremony at the Vaziani military base, 28 kilometers (17 miles) east of the capital Tbilisi, Tuesday, March 1, 2005. Photo credit: Shakh Aivazov, AP Estonia: No photography presently available Honduras: Withdrew late May 2004
Honduran soldier stands near a U.S. Army Abraham tank in a coalition forces base near the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, April 20, 2004. Photo credit: Laszlo Balogh, Reuters Italy: Withdrew end of November 2006
Italian soldiers salute their national flag as Defence Minister Arturo Parisi (not in the picture) lays a wreath at a military base in the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. As of December 1, 2006, the last Italian troops in Iraq have headed home, following a three-year commitment. Iraqi forces will have to take over. Photo credit: Essam Al-Sudani, AFP
Members of the Lagunari Regiment of the Italian Army gather for a ceremony to posthumously award Corporal Matteo Vanzan the Cross of Honour, in northern Italy's city of Venice June 21, 2006. Vanzan was killed in Nassiriya, Iraq in May 2004 at the age of 22. Photo credit: Manuel Silvestri, Reuters
Italian soldiers set-up a checkpoint in a village in Nasiriyah, 375 km (235 miles) southeast of Baghdad May 12, 2006. British, Romanian and Italian soldiers conducted a joint patrol in several villages in Nasiriyah. Photo credit: Atef Hassan, Reuters
Italian carabinieri wave to Iraqi soldiers (not pictured) as they patrol the streets of Nasiriyah in March 2005. Photo credit: Essam Al-Sudani, AFP
An Italian Predator UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) rests on the tarmac at Tallil Air Base, approximately 310 km (192 miles) southeast of Baghdad, March 31, 2005. The Italian Joint Task Force in Iraq has been operating the Predator since January to conduct aerial surveillance over their operating area near Nasiriya. Phoot credit: Bob Strong, Reuters
Italian soliders patrol the streets in the city of Nasiriyah, 375 kms from Baghdad. Photo credit: Essam al-Sudani, AFP
An Italian soldier of the Sassari Brigade, Valeria Monachella uses her binoculars to inspect flames and thick black smoke coming from a damaged oil pipeline near the Southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003. There was no immediate explanation about what had caused the fire but the leakage may be caused by the obsolete conditions of the pipeline. Photo credit: Pier Paolo Cito, AP
An Italian Army soldier of the Sassari Brigade looks at a pistol found after a search to Iraqi motorists at a checkpoint outside the Southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003. Photo credit: Pier Paolo Cito, AP
Italian EOD personnel supervise the movement by Iraqi workmen of ammunition that has been assessed as safe. Photo credit: UK MoD
Iraqi youths run towards Italian soldiers of the Sassari Brigade patrolling the roads of a village near the Southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003. Photo credit: Pier Paolo Cito, AP
Italian Army soldier Antonella Fancellu, 23, of the Sassari Brigade, receives a "thumbs up" from an Iraqi youth during a patrol of the roads of a village near the Southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003. Photo credit: Pier Paolo Cito, AP
An unidentified local sheik shakes hands with Carmelo Burgio, commander of Italy's carabinieri contingent, during a meeting with sheiks from the area around the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah at the Italian base "White Horse", Sunday, Nov. 23, 2002. Photo credit: Pier Paolo Cito, AP Japan: Withdrew July 2006
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi announced on July 17, 2006 that all Japanese military forces have withdrawn from Iraq. They are not to be replaced. Koizumi bragged his soldiers never fired a shot and never turned their guns at any person. They suffered no losses while in Iraq. They were protected by British and Australian troops. Nice work if you can get it. Photo credit: Alaa al-Marjani
A Japanese soldier waves while aboard an armoured vehicle in Samawa, 270 km (160 miles) south of Baghdad May 12, 2006. Japanese troops opened a school for children that they helped to build in Samawa on this date, residents said. Photo credit: Mohammed Ameen
A Japanese Self-Defense Force soldier stands guard on a street in the Iraqi city of Samawa April 21, 2005. Photo credit: Mohammed Ameen, Reuters
Japanese Self-Defence Force personnel drive past a municipal project in the southern Iraq city of Samawa March 22, 2005. Photo credit: Mohammed Ameen, Reuters
A Japanese army soldier walks past an Iraqi worker at a construction site in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, February 14, 2005. Photo credit: Mohammed Ameen, Reuters
A young Iraqi boy waves to Japanese army soldiers as they drive past in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, February 14, 2005. Photo credit: Mohammed Ameen, Reuters Kazakhstan
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (L) thanks Kazakhstan’s army engineers, recently rotated out of Iraq, for their work in destroying mines and restoring drinking water. February 25, 2004. Photo credit: Jason Reed, AFP Korea, Republic of
South Korean soldiers patrol a street in the Kurdish city of Arbil, northern Iraq, in March 2006. Photo credit: Safin Hamed, AFP
Korean Soldiers keep a lookout over Camp Zaytun near Irbil, Iraq. Korean forces are helping rebuild the northern area largely populated by Kurds and which was severely neglected under Saddam Hussein’s regime. They are also providing medical care and helping to train the locals in various fields from farming to baking to household and automotive maintenance. Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Brett B. McMillan
South Korean Army soldiers punch the air and shout during a farewell ceremony at a military unit in Gwangju, east of Seoul, South Korea, April 18, 2005. These troops are on their way to Iraq. Photo credit: Ahn Young-joon, AP
South Korean soldiers take part in a military ceremony in Arbil, Iraq, to the north. Photo credit: Safin Hamed, AFP
South Korean soldiers celebrate their return from deployment in Iraq during a welcoming ceremony at an air base in Kwangju, about 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Seoul, February 26, 2005. Photo credit: Kim Kyung-Hoon, Reuters
South Korean soldiers carry their commander during a farewell ceremony prior to their departure to Iraq at a military unit in Kwangju, about 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Seoul, February 24, 2005. Photo credit: Kim Kyung-Hoon, AP
Large salute : South Korean troops salute at a ceremony in Kwangju before their departure for Iraq. Photo credit: Kim Jae-Hwan, AP Latvia
Commander of Latvian Contingent to Iraq, Maj. Viesturs Bubucis. Photo credit: Einars Binders
Latvian contingent soldiers to Iraq in line formation. Photo credit: Einars Binders Lithuania: No photography available at present. Macedonia
Commander of the U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, Admiral Henry G Ulrich III, left, presents U.S. Army Commendation Medals to Captain Koco Hristovski, right and Captain Esef Cesko, center, both from Macedonian Special Forces Regiment, which is a part of the Multinational Corps Iraq, during an award ceremony in Macedonia's Ministry of Defense in Skopje, Tuesday, March 28, 2006. Captains Cesko and Hristovski are recognized for their meritorious service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo credit: Boris Grdanoski, AP
Macedonian soldiers bound for Iraq take part in a parade in Skopje, in May 2004. Photo credit: Robert Atanasovski, AFP Mongolia
Mongolian Soldiers of the 150th Peacekeeping Battalion in Iraq.
Mongolian officers in Iraq (L to R): Lt. Col. Ch. Dashdeleg, Officer in Logistics Department, General Staff; Col. Ch. Baldar, Consulting Surgeon, Central Military Hospital of Armed Forces; and Lt. Col. T. Delgersaikhan, Chief, Hygiene Section, Military Labor Safety Office of Armed Forces. Photo credit: U.S. Defense Attaché, Mongolia
Mongolian soldiers man an observation post in the Polish occupation zone of Iraq. Photo credit: U.S. Defense Attaché, Mongolia (Editor;'s note: We believe the "blue-out" has been done to proect the identity of the location of this outpost. Netherlands: Withdrew March 2005
Dutch soldiers march during a handover ceremony at their military camp in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, March 7, 2005. Dutch forces in Iraq officially handed over command of their Camp Smitty base in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa to British troops, marking the end of the 20-month Dutch mission in the country. Photo credit: Mohammed Ameen, Reuters
Poland
Polish Army Soldiers march in a change of command ceremony at Camp Echo, January 26, 2007. Photo credit: Sgt. Curt Cashour, US DoD
Polish army Warrant Officer 4th Class Jardseaw Krysinski, top, helps Iraqi army officers teach noncommissioned officers (NCO) on how to clear a building during the Iraqi army's 8th Division - Central NCO course at the 8th Iraqi Division Headquarters, Diwaniyah, Iraq, March 26, 2006. Photo credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jason T. Bailey
Polish Army soldiers stand guard during a ceremony held in Diwaniya, in southern Iraq, March 24, 2005. Photo credit: Reuters stringer
Polish Thunder Special Forces, known in Poland as GROM, an SAS-style commando unit which also saw action in Afghanistan, participated in combat operations in the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr. Photo credit: Desmond Boylan. March 26, 2003
Soldiers of the Polish stabilization force which is going to Iraq to take command of the south-central zone bid farewell at the airport in Wroclaw, Poland before departing to Iraq on July 2, 2003.
Polish soldiers on patrol in the Iraqi city of Hilla. Photo credit: Ahmad Al-Rubaye, AFP
Polish army soldiers march during a handover ceremony held at their military base in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya, February 7, 2005. A change of command ceremony took place at Camp Echo in Diwaniya city, 112 miles south of Baghdad on Monday where Maj Gen Andrzej Ekiert handed over the command to Maj Gen Waldemar Skrzypczak. Photo credit: Jafar Sadiq, Reuters Romania Romania declared in early 2007 that it has no intention of withdrawing its forces.
An Orthodox priest blesses troops at a ceremony held before the departure for Iraq of 395 Romanian soldiers in Bragadiru, southwest of Bucharest, January 26, 2007. Photo credit: Vadim Ghirda, AP
Romanian soldiers sit atop of their armoured vehicle while on patrol in a village in Nasiriyah, 375 km (235 miles) southeast of Baghdad, May 12, 2006. British, Romanian and Italian soldiers conducted a joint patrol in several villages in Nasiriyah, a British military officer said. The writing on the vehicle reads 'Romania'. Photo credit: Atef Hassan, Reuters
A Romanian soldier sits atop a military armoured vehicle at a police station in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya in this January 17, 2005 photograph. Photo credit: John Moore, Reuters
Romanian President Traian Basescu (C) speaks with Romanian troops at a military base in Ad Diwanyah city, Iraq. Basescu made a surprise visit to Iraq to express his gratitude to Romanian troops for their efforts. Photo credit: Romanian Presidency, AFP Salvador San Salvador declared in late 2006 its support for US efforts in Iraq is unconditional. She has been with the coalition since August 2003.
Members of the VIII Contingent of the Cuscatlan Battalion who will travel to Iraq in the next days, take part in a goodbye ceremony in San Juan Opico, El Salvador, January 29, 2007. Photo credit: Luis Galdamez, Reuters
Minister of Defense of El Salvador, Major General Otto Romero, salutes his troops in Iraq.
Soldier Victor Manuel Melara, 29, holds his son Argenis de Jesus Viernes, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006, in Opico, 30km (18.6 miles) Northeast de San Salvador, El Salvador, before embarking to Iraq. The new troops will replace soldiers currently based in the southern Iraqi city of Kut according to a previously established rotation schedule. Two soldiers from that unit have been killed and at least four others wounded during insurgent attacks in the past month. President Tony Saca presided over the departure ceremony for the soldiers. This will be Melara's second mission in Iraq. Photo credit: Edgar Romero, AP
Salvadoran President Tony Saca, right, decorates Miguel Antonio Perez, a member of the third Salvadoran troop battalion to provide support to the U.S.-led mission in Iraq, in Ilopango, El Salvador, March 31, 2005. Photo credit: Edgar Romero, AP
A Salvadorean soldier watches over the Iraqi village of Al Sahla, April 3, 2004, following a firefight with a little known Shi'ite militia the previous night. Photo credit: Ali Jasim, Reuters.
Salvadoran soldiers of the Cuscatlan Battalion III hold an Iraqi Flag upon their arrival at Ilopango's airbase 12 kms east to San Salvador February 25, 2005. Photo credit: Luis Galdamez, Reuters
A Salvadoran soldier of the Cuscatlan Battalion III hugs his children upon his arrival at Ilopango's airbase 12 kms east to San Salvador February 25, 2005. Photo credit: Luis Galdamez, Reuters
A Salvadoran soldier of the Cuscatlan Battalion III greets his family upon his arrival at Ilopango's airbase 12 kms east to San Salvador February 25, 2005. Photo credit: Luis Galdamez, Reuters Spain: Withdrew April 2004
Spanish troops in Iraq. Photo credit: CTK
A handicapped Iraqi boy is carried by a Spanish soldier to a wheelchair donated by troops based in the Iraqi town of Diwaniya, about 200 km (124 miles) south of the capital Baghdad March 16, 2004. Photo credit: Akram Saleh, Reuters
A Spanish soldier crosses a bridge as he patrols the area around a dam in Bolarque, after Spain stepped up security measures. Photo credit: AP
Spain's Defense Minister Federico Trillo bids farewell to Spanish soldiers at Madrid's Torrejon de Ardoz airbase before they head to Iraq to aid U.S. and British forces, Aug. 13, 2003. Photo credit: J.J. Guillen, AP/WideWorld - EFE, Ukraine: Withdrew December 2005
Ukrainian soldiers take shelter behind a military vehicle in the southern Iraqi city of Kut. Photo credit: Karim Sahib, AFP
Ukrainian troops attend a ceremony at their base in Kut, southeast of Baghdad. Photo credit: Ali Alak, AFP |
Opening photo credit: A Romanian girl cries in her father's arms before he joins 394 comrades departing for Iraq, in Bragadiru, southwest of Bucharest, January 26, 2007. Romania, part of the US military coalition in Iraq, has said it has no intention of withdrawing troops. Vadim Ghirda, AP We honor service and sacrifice. Please click the "Donate" button and contribute $20 or more to help keep this station alive. Thanks. |
