Operation ‘‘Support to Iraq II’’

The second Spanish contingent to be deployed as part of the “Support to Iraq” mission has been at the “Gran Capitán” base in Besmayah since 13 July, when the second rotation of the Legion Brigade was withdrawn. The bulk of the new contingent was provided by the Parachute Brigade.

Around 120 parachutists left for Iraq to relieve the Legion in the task of training the Iraqi army until December as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and jihadi terrorism.

The group is part of the second contingent Spain sends to Iraq within the framework of the mission approved by the government and authorised by parliament in October last year. Its soldiers belong to the Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC, in its Spanish acronym), which will contribute a total of 225 soldiers and is led by Colonel Francisco Javier Romero.

The Spanish members of the Special Operations Command stationed in Baghdad and Taji are also engaged in that mission. All in all, the Spanish contingent is around 300 strong.

The Legion Brigade contributed to the first contingent over 200 soldiers from the 3rd Regiment “Don Juan de Austria”, the 4th Regiment “Alejandro Farnesio”, the Field Artillery Group, the Logistic Group, the Sappers Battalion and the Headquarters Battalion. Its redeployment will come to an end this weekend with the arrival of the third – and last – rotation.

Those who have returned include the members of the Engineer Command who have been working to improve living standards and security at the “Gran Capitán” base. The 70 soldiers, mostly from the 11th Engineers Regiment, had been devoted to that task since their arrival in Iraq at the beginning of February.