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Czech to send air instructors team to Iraq

Xinhua, June 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Czech government is to send an air instructors team to Iraq to help train pilots of Czech L-159 fighters in late July, said Czech General Staff spokesman Jan Sulc on Wednesday.

The Czech military sold 15 L-159s fighters to Iraq in 2015. The Czech Republic will send a team of up to 35 members, including pilots, technicians, logistics experts and military police to work in Iraq until the end of 2018.

A 30-member team will operate in Iraq, and if needed, an additional five members would be sent as reinforcements.

Representatives of the Czech and Iraqi militaries signed a document on Tuesday modifying the conditions of Czech soldiers, including their protection and legal status in Iraq.

The Czech team will operate at the Balad air base which is about 65 km north of Baghdad and will not take part in combat operations.

Both the Czech government and parliament have approved the Iraqi mission. The cost of the mission is to be covered from the Czech defense budget. According to the original plan, the Czech team was to be sent to Iraq in early June. Endit