India Deploys CRPF Elite Squad to Guard Embassy in Iraq

The multi-skilled CRPF troops have taken charge of the embassy complex located in the Al Mansour area of the Iraqi capital.

New Delhi: India has deployed an elite contingent of its commando-trained armed CRPF personnel to guard the Indian embassy and its diplomats in Iraq’s capital city Baghdad. The deployment was initiated two months ago and more than 40-member squad is performing its task.

The multi-skilled CRPF troops have taken charge of the embassy complex located in the Al Mansour area of the Iraqi capital. This comes as there is a slow return to normalcy in Iraq after the defeat of terrorists of the dreaded Islamic State outfit in the war-torn country.

In December last year, Iraq declared victory over the IS, which had seized control of nearly a third of the country and neighbouring Syria in 2014, establishing a self-styled caliphate.

The Iraqi government has also executed scores of people for their alleged involvement with the dreaded terror group.

Meanwhile, over 1,000 ISIS terrorists have fled Syria to western Iraq over the last six months with around USD 200 million in tow, according to a US military official, reported CNN.

The fleeing continues as the United States has upped the ante against the terrorist organisation in its fight to completely defeat ISIS in run-up to the US pullout from the region. Quoting the US military official, CNN further reported that there are around 20,000 to 30,000 ISIS “fighters” remaining in Syria and Iraq combined.

Thousands are involved in efforts to completely defeat ISIS, including obliterating networks which fund the organisation and nabbing people who provide the terrorist outfit with safe havens. US President Donald Trump had earlier cited the defeat of ISIS as one of the reasons behind the impending exit of US troops from Syria – a claim which was dismissed by US Congressmen and media alike. Following this, efforts have been accelerated to wholly quash the terrorist organisation.