Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

IRAQ

Austria commences aid flights to Iraq

Austria has begun a series of humanitarian aid shipments to Iraq.

Published: 21 August 2014 10:35 CEST
Austria commences aid flights to Iraq
Austrian air force C-130 Hercules transport plane. Photo: Austrian Air Force

It was "important" for the Austrian government to help "fast and unbureaucratically", Minister of Defence Gerald Klug (Social Democrats/SPÖ) said in a press release on Wednesday.

"I am happy that the Austrian army can contribute here."

The aid packages for primary medical care were transported by plane to Turkey from where they will be brought to Iraq. The packages would include medical products for 100,000 people for three months.

This mission is part of an initiative of the ministry of defence and the foreign ministry. This would include a payment of one million euros, Klug emphasised.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

IRAQ

Danish soldiers leave Iraq amid Middle East tensions

100 Danish soldiers arrived in Kuwait on Thursday after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that they were to temporarily relocate from the al-Asad base in Iraq.

Published: 10 January 2020 09:28 CET
Danish soldiers leave Iraq amid Middle East tensions
A file photo showing Danish Minister of Defence Trine Bramsen meeting military personnel. Photo: Niels Christian Vilmann/Ritzau Scanpix

The al-Asad base was one of two military bases hit by Iranian missile strikes earlier this week. The strikes were carried out by Iran in retaliation for the killing of its major general Qassem Soleimani by the United States last week in Baghdad.

Denmark’s defence minister Trine Bramsen wrote on social media that the soldiers had landed in Kuwait. That was confirmed by the Danish armed forces (Forsvaret) on its website.

The 100 soldiers were transported to Kuwait by a Danish Hercules transport aircraft.

“Our soldiers have landed in Kuwait. Their safety is the first priority. I hope they can continue the fight against Isil [terror group Islamic State (Isis), ed.] soon,” Bramsen tweeted.

The announcement from the Danish government came after Iran attacked two military bases in Iraq on Wednesday night, including the al-Asad base, where 133 Danish soldiers are stationed. Danish personnel at the base are involved in training Iraqi forces.

The Danish government has taken the view that, under current circumstances, its personnel cannot continue the work in Iraq.

“I am pleased that the relocation has taken place quickly and on schedule. And I have great respect for the soldiers still at the base, where they continue to carry out important duties,” Bramsen said via the Danish armed forces’ website.

In addition to the 133 soldiers at the al-Asad base, Denmark also has eight staff officers at Nato's Mission Iraq in Baghdad. The eight personnel have also been temporarily moved to Kuwait.

READ ALSO: Denmark parliament to discuss presence of soldiers in Iraq

SHOW COMMENTS