Prague, Feb 4 (CTK) – Seven Czech military police instructors and another three military police officers left for Iraq on Sunday to train local armed forces and help protect the Czech air force advisory team, Defence Ministry spokesman Jan Pejsek has told CTK.
The Czech air force advisory team has been operating in Iraq since August 2016, training Iraqi pilots of the Czech-made L-159 combat planes.
“Our military police officers have rich experience with mentoring. In the past, they helped train thousands of members of the Iraqi and Afghan security forces. I am proud of the Czech soldiers perfectly fulfilling their tasks not only at home but also successfully sharing their experience with their counterparts abroad,” Czech Defence Minister Karla Slechtova (ANO) said.
Seven military police officers from the Military Police Command in Tabor, south Bohemia, will replace their four Czech colleagues at the Baghdad base where they will operate for six months as of February 10.
They will help train the Iraqi police within the Italian contingent, focusing on the basic police skills such as shooting, tactic and medical aid.
A similar help has been provided for Iraq by a team of Czech police officers.
Slovak military police are to join the mission, based on the Military Police multinational battalion, later this year, Czech Military Police head Pavel Kriz has said.
Another three Czech military police officers who left for Iraq on Sunday will assist in protecting the members of the air force advisory team comprised of 30 Czech soldiers.
In addition, the Czech Republic sent 12 military chemists to Iraq a week ago to train local chemical warfare specialists in methods of protection against weapons of mass destruction.
