Inherent Resolve in northern Iraq

Since 5 September 2016, the first contingent of the Slovenian Armed Forces has been taking part in Operation Inherent Resolve in the northern part of Iraq. Six contingent members are located in the Kurdistan Training Coordination Centre (KTCC) in Erbil, while one officer works in the coalition command within U.S. Central Command (US CENTCOM) in Tampa, USA. The six SAF members in Erbil work under the lead of Germany, one of the leading nations in the Operation. Together, they constitute a part of the Mobile Training Team and work within Building Partner Capacity Team (BPC-T). In accordance with the tasks defined at the Force Generation Conference, which ended on 10 March in Tampa, SAF members provide mentoring support to Iraqi servicemembers in infantry weapons handling and tactics, basic medical services, engineering and signals. Four four-month rotations are envisaged within the first contingent.

On 21 January 2016, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia expressed the intention to enhance the participation in the military part of the Global Coalition against Daesh. On 3 February 2016, it adopted a decision that the Republic of Slovenia takes part in the global counterterrorist coalition against Daesh (ISIL) by assuming an officer-level duty in the coalition command established within the U.S. Central Command; by donating weapons and equipment, and by providing training of servicemembers in the northern part of Iraq with a maximum of 15 servicemembers. The Slovenian Armed Forces announced its participation in the Global Coalition at Coalition’s regular Force Generation Conference in March 2016. In line with the decision of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, order of the defence minister, and bilateral talks with the Republic of Germany, the Slovenian Armed Forces designed, prepared and deployed a temporary task force. Additionally, it arranged for the transportation of the donated excess weapons to northern Iraq.