8TH SUPPORT TO IRAQ

A new Spanish contingent, created from the 6th Brigade “Almogávares” has initiated their mission in Besmayah (Iraq) in order to provide continuity to the mission of training of the law enforcement authorities of the Iraqi government.

The work carried out by the Spanish troops in the Inherent Resolve International Coalition operation focuses on the training of the Iraqi army as part of the strategy to erradicate the jihadist terrorism, contributing to this way to global security and as a consequence the security of Spain.

In the transfer of authority ceremony, the general Luis Francisco Cepeda Lucas, chief of the seventh contingent, created from the 2nd Brigade of the Legión, passed the baton of the Besmayah Task Force  to the general Luis Cortés Delgado. This ceremony was attended by the lieutenant general Paul E.Funk, the Chief of the Combined Task Force (CJTF), the Spanish ambassador, Juan José Escobar, civilian and military Iraqi authorities and the chiefs of different Task Forces as well as personnel from CJTF and members from  NATO countries.

Under the solgan "Train Together Win Together", the components from BPC VIII will have guaranteed success in the operation during the next six months.

The contingent from BPC VIII is made up of around 350 soldiers, the majority of which belong to the 6th Brigade "Almogávares" of Paratroopers and the rest from different units of the Spanish Army and the Spanish Airforce. The Unit of the Guardia Civil will also participate and will be responsable for providing advanced police training to the Security Iraqi Forces.

Spain forms part of an multinational coalition with more than 70 countries organised to defeat the self-proclaimed Iraqi State (Daesh) within the Inherent Resolve Operation. For this, our country leads one of the four BPC (Builidng Partner Capacity), a concept designed to increase the capabiltiies of the Iraqi Army with the support of teams of instructors from other allied armies.