Baghdad, Iraq —U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was in Iraq leading a congressional delegation as part of a week-long trip in the Middle East. The delegation met with U.S. and Iraqi military commanders as well as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, visited several military sites across Iraq, and met with Hoosier servicemembers. 

Donnelly, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said, “I was in Iraq to hear directly from U.S. and Iraqi military commanders about the fight against ISIS. I also had the honor of visiting Hoosiers stationed in Baghdad and Anbar, working to train, advise and assist their Iraqi counterparts. These young men and women are playing a key role in supporting Iraqi and coalition efforts that will protect our nation and our communities by eliminating ISIS safe havens in Iraq and Syria.”

Earlier this week, Donnelly traveled to Israel, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), and Bahrain.

In Israel, Donnelly met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visited several military sites to get an update on the country’s missile defense systems and joint missile defense efforts with the U.S. Donnelly also met with Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro. As part of his continued support for critical missile defense efforts, Donnelly and Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, recently sent a bipartisan letter to President Obama. Donnelly and Sessions highlighted the importance of investments in U.S. missile defense capabilities, and the need to strengthen our partnerships with allies around the world, particularly Israel.

In the U.A.E., Donnelly met with U.S. and Emirati defense leaders and visited military sites focused on missile defense.

And in Bahrain, Donnelly met with U.S. Navy leadership and servicemembers, including Hoosiers, to discuss regional threats that impact stability in the Middle East and our national security.

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