Syria isn't the only modern battlefield to feel the sting of chemical weapons attacks.
They frequently took place in Iraq as well, as a recently released cache of emails shows.
In late June 2017, the head of U.S. Central Command, Army Gen. Joseph Votel, informed his boss, Joint Chiefs Chairman Joe Dunford, about nearly 20 suspected chemical attacks against Iraqi forces during the battle for Mosul.
The information was contained in emails obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request by a group called Democracy Forward. I asked for a copy after reading Vera Bergengruen's piece in Buzzfeed about the disconnect between the White House and military. The Pentagon, as Bergengruen points out, is struggling to keep up with a maverick president who routinely surprises folks in the five-sided office building - not to mention those down here in Tampa at MacDill Air Force Base.
Anyway, on June 25, 2017, Votel emailed Dunford and a host of other military officials, informing them of another "Chemical (Mustard) attack against partnered forces in Mosul. While there are no US or Coalition casualties - very definite CTS casualties," he wrote, referring to the Iraqi special operations forces. "The attack represents at least the 19th time that ISIS has used these types of munitions" against allies since the start of the West Mosul campaign.
The emails obtained by Democracy Forward include details about the 19 attacks, which began April 14 with a "possible mustard mortar attack" that was initially reported as a chlorine attack. Ten victims suffered from blisters, trouble breathing, inflamed skin and vomiting.
Between that attack and one on June 24, 2017, more than 70 Iraqi troops, an unknown number of civilians and a few non-governmental organization members suffered injuries.
There was no indication of what, if any, long-term health problems the injured suffered or whether any died as a result.
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And now for some happier news.
Congrats to MacDill Air Force Base and the Hillsborough County Public Schools, who've been awarded the 2018 Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award from the Military Child Education Coalition. It's a non-profit focusing on the well-being and needs of the nation's 4 million military and veteran-connected children.
Traveling to Washington, D.C., July 24 to accept the award were Superintendent Jeff Eakins and School Board Chairwoman Sally Harris, along with students and staff from Robinson High School and the Tinker K-8 School at MacDill, and representatives from the base.
The school district and the base, through their partnership with the MacDill Council for Educational Excellence, were recognized in the category of Total Community Partnership for ensuring an inclusive, quality education for all military-connected children, according to a news release.
More than 7,200 military-connected students attend Hillsborough County Public Schools. These children face challenges with all the moving their families must do.
The MacDill Council for Educational Excellence was created in 2011, according to the release, "to better meet the needs of the military children and families we serve. The partnership had led to many changes which positively affect these students and their families, including improvements in policies and procedures, school choice options and the quality of educational offerings and supports."
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The Pentagon announced no new deaths last week in ongoing operations.
There have been 2,347 U.S. troop deaths in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; 52 U.S. troop deaths and one civilian Department of Defense employee death in support of the follow-up, Operation Freedom's Sentinel; 55 troop deaths and two civilian deaths in support of Operation Inherent Resolve; one troop death in support of Operation Odyssey Lightning, the fight against Islamic State in Libya; one troop death in support of Operation Joint Guardian, one death classified as other contingency operations in the global war on terrorism; one death in Operation Octave Shield and six deaths in ongoing operations in Africa where, if they have a title, officials will not divulge it.
Contact Howard Altman at haltman@tampabay.com or (813) 225-3112. Follow @haltman.