NATO counter-IED instructors deploy to Iraq

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The NATO Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) Centre of Excellence is deploying a multinational team of instructors to Iraq. These experts will train Iraqi security forces on how to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a press release by NATO said.

IEDs or roadside bombs are inexpensive and easy to get by terrorists, and ISIL is making an extensive use of these bombs in the occupied areas, aiming to provoke terror among the population, the press release added.

Colonel Juan Enrique Gómez Martín, Director C-Ied Centre of Excellence, Spanish Army said, “Iraqi forces have started liberating territories from Daesh (Islamic State), but when they retake a city, they find it totally IED-contaminated. They are experiencing many casualties within their troops because of this contamination. Additionally this is preventing the local population from returning to their homes and villages.”

“They are inexpensive weapons, easy to get and extremely effective. The effect on the population is to provoke fear and terror and of course to kill people,” he added.

meanwhile, Major Gheorghe Dragoș, Action Officer For Ied Clearance T3 Course, C-Ied Coe, Romanian Army stated, “The Counter-IED Centre of Excellence was requested by NATO to plan, develop and conduct a ‘train-the-trainers’ course in Iraq in support of this intent to support Iraqi soldiers to better undertake their future missions against improvised explosive devices.

“So our responsibility is very huge because our students are warriors and after the training they will go back to fight,” Dragoș added.

In the same context, Sergeant 1st Class Denis Zöhner, Ied Analyst, C-Ied Coe German Army said, “This is one of the victim-operated improvised explosive devices we can encounter in Iraq. That’s an improvised pressure switch, which is made of blood pressure cuff.”

“It is really hard to detect it because it has less content of metal. And they’re deploying the metal detector, they cannot find the device itself, so they will probably step on this kind of improvised pressure plate. And depending on the main charge which is attached to this switch, the casualties can range from one soldier up to one hundred,” Zöhner explained.

This Counter-Ied Training Programme In Iraq Is Led By The NATO Science For Peace And Security Programme.

Iraqi security forces have to face IED threats when retaking territory. Achieving high-level skills in detecting and defusing IEDs will help Iraqi officers with their struggle against terrorism.