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Israeli IDF commandos trained Kurdish
forces
20.9.2006 |
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LONDON, -- Former
Israeli commandos have been training Kurdish
security forces in Kurdistan (northern Iraq), the
BBC reported on Tuesday, showing videos of the
alleged training camps.
According to the broadcaster, over 2004 and 2005,
the ex-commandos were giving training to Kurdish
soldiers and left Iraq in 2005 when told by the
Kurds that their location was compromised.
Israel apparently provided the training, along with
quad bikes, communications equipment and security
fencing through security companies.
The training covered airport security, the use of
long rifles and pistols, shooting from behind doors
and barricades, and how to identify a terrorist in a
crowd, the broadcaster reported.
The BBC also reported that the total value of the
training, and the associated equipment supplied, may
have been as high as 150 million dollars (118
million euros).
Speaking to the broadcaster, an unidentified Israeli
who took part in the training camps said: "Day by
day, it's a bit tense, because you know where you
are, and you know who you are, and there's always a
chance that you'll get found out."
Spokesmen for the Israeli and Iraqi Kurdistan
governments both denied having any knowledge of the
training taking place.
According to the BBC, Israel is also conducting an
inquiry into the issue.
The BBC's report is not the first time the issue has
been raised -- the Israeli newspaper Yedioth
Aharonot made similar allegations in December 2005,
a charge the government of Iraqi Kurdistan denied.
At the time, the newspaper reported that, operating
from a secret desert stronghold dubbed Code Z,
former Israeli soldiers, all of whom have elite-unit
experience, were training the Kurds in weapons,
self-defence and anti-terror techniques.
As part of the programme, the Israeli firms had
supplied the Kurds with tonnes of
Israeli-manufactured equipment, including dozens of
motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, sniffer dogs,
devices for upgrading Kalashnikov rifles, flak
jackets, uniforms and helmets, the paper said.
AFP
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