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Iraqi Kurdish bomb squad to train mine clearance in Czech Republic

Xinhua, October 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Kurdish bomb squad will train mine clearance with the Czech military's engineering battalion in Bechyne, south Bohemia, said Vladimir Lukovsky from Czech Defence Ministry's press department on Monday.

The course will last about four weeks, the Kurdish soldiers will practice removing unexploded munitions, reported local media.

Lukovsky said the special course for 11 members of the Iraqi Kurdish armed forces focused on training the basic skills in identifying and detecting of unexploded ordnance (EOD) will be held at the 15th engineering battalion's base in Bechyne in the second half of October.

Participants will include members of the official security forces from Iraqi Kurdistan Region. They are part of a coalition fighting against the Islamic State (IS) and part of the Iraqi armed forces.

The bomb- and mine-clearance skill is badly needed by the Iraqi army whose soldiers have to remove a large amount of bombs and mines while reconquering towns from IS militants.

For further assistance, a Czech military medical team is to leave for Iraq in the months to come, followed by military instructors. Endit