KYIV. Sept 2 (Interfax-AVN) - The new Iraqi army has opened its first base in the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent's area of responsibility, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service reported on Thursday.
"The first military base of the new Iraqi army, where the 2nd special-purpose brigade will be stationed from now on, has opened near the town of Al Numaniya in the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent's area of responsibility," a press service official told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The opening ceremony was attended by Brigadier General James Schwitters, commanding general, Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, General Amel Amad, commander of the Southern sector of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Muhammad Rada Jaafer Abbas Al Jashami, Wasit province governor, and Major General Sergei Ostrovsky, commander of the 6th Ukrainian detached mechanized brigade.
"Iraqi army representatives praised the Ukrainian military's aid in creating the base and its infrastructure," the press service official said.
According to him, the personnel of the newly-established Iraqi brigade is being trained on a special program and has required facilities for training and leisure, namely barracks, classroom buildings, the headquarters, an equipped training ground, and a quad.
The brigade is under command of Colonel Khamid Khalid.