Spain’s Defense Minister Morenés Visits Spanish Contingent Deployed In Iraq

Spain’s acting Minister for Defense, Pedro Morenés, travelled to the Republic of Iraq to visit the Spanish contingent deployed in the towns of Baghdad and Bismayah on October 3 and 4.

On arriving in Baghdad, the Spanish Minister for Defence was met by the Spanish Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, José María Ferré, with whom he held a working meeting and received a report on the current situation in the country.

After this meeting, Pedro Morenés traveled by helicopter to Bismayah, the town where most of the Spanish contingent is based and where he was met by the chief of the Spanish forces in Iraq, Colonel Pedro Vázquez de Prada.

While in Bismayah, the Spanish minister presided over a tribute to fallen servicemen, at which he paid special tribute to Private Aarón Vidal, who lost his life in a road accident in September. Following the ceremony, Pedro Morenés took the opportunity to talk with the contingent deployed in Bismayah and hear their thoughts.

Besides housing the Spanish troops, the ‘Gran Capitán’ Base is also being used for part of the Building Partner Capability program – US, UK and Portuguese troops, all of whom are under the command of Colonel Vázquez de Prada.

After this visit, Pedro Morenés  returned by helicopter to the Iraqi capital, where he was due to meet with the Head of Special Operations Group IV, Lieutenant-Colonel Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who will report on ongoing operations and the development of military activities in the region.