Lieutenant General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, operational commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently concluded an official visit to Iraq, where he met with Iraqi military leaders in Baghdad, Italian soldiers serving under NATO Mission Iraq, and in Erbil, the national contingent operating within the "Inherent Resolve/Prima Parthica" coalition. The Italian delegation, led by the COVI commander and Italian Ambassador to Iraq Maurizio Greganti, was welcomed at Baghdad's "Union III" military base by Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs of the Netherlands, commander of NMI. The Royal Netherlands Army officer expressed appreciation for the Italian personnel's activities and provided a positive assessment of Iraqi institutional progress, particularly in defense and security. He highlighted upcoming objectives to ensure continuity beyond the Inherent Resolve mission mandate. Figliuolo also met with Italian military personnel stationed in Baghdad, including NMI staff, logistics from the Joint Multimodal Operations Unit, the Italian Special Forces detachment Task Force 44, and trainers from the Carabinieri Mobile Training Team operating at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center. During the visit, the delegation met with Iraqi Defense Chief General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah and Iraqi Joint Operations Command Deputy Commander General Qais Khalaf al-Muhammadi to discuss regional security and bilateral defense cooperation, including joint exercises involving the Italian Air Force and Special Forces. In Erbil - Camp Singara, where the Italian contingent of "Prima Parthica" operates, General Figliuolo met with Italian soldiers advising and training Peshmerga and Zeravani Forces in the Iraqi Kurdistan region to enhance their autonomy in maintaining pressure against DA’ESH resurgence. He was welcomed by Italian National Contingent-Land Commander Colonel Ciro Forte and Consul of Italy in Erbil Michele Camerota. General Figliuolo confirmed future mission developments: "Minister Crosetto and the Chief of Defense Staff intend to enhance training activities at Camp Singara and forward operating bases promptly. The contingent will remain in Kurdistan to support local authorities and security forces based on specific bilateral agreements, ensuring professionalism and humanity as our distinctive traits." General Figliuolo inspected Kurdish facilities training Peshmerga and Zeravani Forces at Atrush and Sulaymaniyah, meeting base commanders Colonel Shivan Qasim and Colonel Shasim Ahmed Hana. During the visit, Kurdish units demonstrated techniques learned from Italian instructors in recent courses on Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices and checkpoint operations. The visit concluded with meetings at the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs with Lieutenant General Issa Ozeir and Kurdish Regional Security Council, ending at Camp Paterna to greet the Task Group "Griffon," providing helicopter support to NATO Mission Iraq with Italian Army N-90 crews and aircraft. General Figliuolo's mission to Baghdad and Erbil underscores the strong friendship between Rome and Baghdad. Iraqi authorities commended General Figliuolo and Italian soldiers for their work and discipline. "Thanks to NATO and Italy," stated General al-Muhammadi, "Iraq and Baghdad are now safe places; ISIS no longer controls any territory in Iraq. Our next challenges include countering drug trafficking and organized crime." Iraqi Chief of Defense Yarallah confirmed, "Relations with Italy are excellent, especially regarding support for training our military leadership. With Italy's assistance and Italian military instructors, we are enhancing our army and forming new units."
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