MLI Visits Iraq - November 2025

In November 2025, three MLI staff members, Indre Sabaliunaite, Tanya Tarasova, and Eden Slater, traveled to Iraq for a program visit. Over the course of a packed week in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), MLI and our partners advanced security cooperation, reviewed program milestones, and deepened engagement with justice and social service actors.

Strengthening Security on the Ground

The week kicked off with a visit to the Ministry of Peshmerga’s K9 Unit, where the team met seven remarkable dogs in the program—three currently active in the field.

Discussions with senior officials focused on the construction of new kennels, the future expansion of EDD teams, and continued progress in clearing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) across the region. The work of the EDD teams continuously moves the KRI closer to a safer, more secure future.

From Erbil, the delegation traveled to Sulaymaniyah to meet additional implementing partners, address key issues surrounding rehabilitation programming and closure of activities of our social impact programming in Dhi Qar, as well as conduct a final evaluation survey. The conversations were candid, constructive, and forward-looking.

Milestone Visit to the U.S. Consulate

A highlight of the trip was a visit to the United States General Consulate in Erbil. The morning opened with welcoming remarks and a comprehensive review of MLI’s partnership and work with the K9 Unit.

Ministry of Peshmerga K9 Unit representatives spoke powerfully about the number of lives saved by explosive detection dogs across the region and emphasized the urgency of continuing and expanding this lifesaving work.

Then came a moment that brought the mission to life: EDDs Red and Look conducted a live demonstration of their capabilities with their handlers. EDD Red was sponsored by CHAMPS (Children Against Mines Program) students in Coulson Tough, Texas (who named the dog “Titan” to honor their school mascot), and EDD Look was sponsored by General Dynamics (who named the dog “Boomer”). EDD Look was also honored as the 2024 Dog Team of the Year during MLI’s annual Clearing the Path Gala in Washington, DC. The Consulate later presented certificates of appreciation to both the visiting delegation and the Ministry’s K9 Unit—a meaningful recognition of shared commitment and results.

Following lunch and a tour of the new consulate compound, the group visited the K9 Unit kennels for an in-depth orientation session, reinforcing operational coordination and long-term planning.

Commitment to What Comes Next

To wrap up the trip, the team conducted a monitoring visit, interviewing beneficiaries of a rehabilitation program serving vulnerable individuals and leading Community of Practice sessions for social workers working at the Erbil Women and Juvenile reformatory facility.

Throughout the week, collaboration between security institutions, diplomatic partners, and social service providers underscored a shared commitment to stability, rehabilitation, and community safety across the region.