French Air Force Takes Part in Iraq’s Military Exercise (Image)
ISWNews Analysis Group – The Iraqi Air Force has held its first military exercise in the participation of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Iraq as well as the commander of the French Air and Space Force.
On May 23, the military exercise of the Iraqi Air Force codenamed Ababil-1 was held in the presence of Iraq’s Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani in Balad Airbase. In the maneuver, the Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft as well as the Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force General Stéphane Mille and a delegation, accompanying the general, were present as well.
The Iraqi prime minister said that it is the first time that Iraq has witnessed such an exercise in its sky, which promoted our friends in the French Air and Space Force to take part in by dispatching their Rafale and Fraud fighter jets to Iraq; so, we persuade all our friends and brothers to continue the constructive military collaboration as well. Al-Sudani also lauded the courage and glory of the Iraqi pilots during the conflict against terrorism as well as their preparedness to defend the Arab country.
Following the military exercise, Spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Major General Yahya Rasool said that France is one of the leading states in the field of military industry and that Iraq pursues collaborations with the European nation. We hope that the Iraqi Air Force will be equipped with new aircraft, including French Rafale fighter jets that are considered one the most advanced fighters, he added.
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces further pointed out to the significance of carrying out air force exercises with other nations, including NATO member states in particular France.
It should be noted that the spokesman has raised the issue of improving collaboration with the French army despite the fact that some time ago the Ashab al-Kahf resistance group published documents seized from the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) in the Iraqi city of Basra, indicating a teamwork between the intelligence services of France, Germany and Norway, which proved their cooperation in line with the Israeli regime’s menace objectives in Iraq.
Read more: Explosives Found At Norway Intelligence Service in Iraq!
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