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Bulgarian troops participate in drill to certify for NATO missions

Xinhua, April 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Bulgarian Infantry Motorized Battalion Group (IMBG) at Novo Selo Training Area on Tuesday held the final stage of a joint drill aimed at its certification for NATO missions worldwide.

Block and destroy enemy airborne units was the topic of the 11-day exercise codenamed Strike Back 16, which will end on Thursday.

More than 700 Bulgarian and 35 U.S. troops with 190 tanks T-72 and M1A2, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles, along with Su-25 ground-support aircraft and Cougar helicopters, participated in the drill.

Special operations forces, tanks, anti-aircraft forces, and units for psychological operations and for intelligence were among the components of this IMBG, which was formed last year, according to Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense.

After the certification, units from the IMBG will participate in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission to Afghanistan, Land Forces Commander Major General Andrey Botsev told reporters.

Bulgaria, a NATO member since 2004, has been participating in the NATO's missions in Afghanistan since 2002, and currently has 84 troops there. Endit