Al-Araji: No foreign combat troops in Balad air base

INA – Baghdad
 
National Security Adviser Qassim Al-Araji confirmed on Saturday, that there are no foreign combat forces at Balad Air Force Base.
 
“Under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the National Security Adviser, Qasim Al-Araji, an inspection visit was made to Balad Air Base, to see its security conditions, accompanied by a large delegation from the Ministry of Defense, in the presence of the Deputy Joint Operations Commander, Land Force Commander, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Director of Military Intelligence, and Deputy Commander of the Air Force," according to a statement by the media office of the National Security Adviser, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
 
Al-Araji, accompanied by the security delegation, inspected the airbase in all its sections, and listened to a briefing from the commander of the Balad airbase, Major General Diaa Al-Saadi, about the work of the base and its divisions,"
 
“The talk about the presence of foreign combat forces in Balad Air Force base is not accurate, rather there are foreign civilian companies working to train Iraqis in the field of aircraft maintenance, and they exist according to official contracts with Iraq to continue efforts to fight ISIS terrorist gangs, and we must support the security services of all kinds, to maintain internal security,” said Al-Araji.