ERBIL — The parliament of Sweden (Riksdag) has decided to extend its country’s military training missions in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, for the year of 2019. 

“Swedish forces on location in Iraq are to consist of up to 70 people. If the situation demands, it will be possible to add a temporary reinforcement and evacuation force consisting of a maximum of 150 people,” Riksdag announced on its official website. 

Sweden has been participating in the military training efforts as a result of Riksdag decisions since 2015 which are a result of an invitation from Iraq and are being carried out within the framework of the global coalition that is working together to combat the Islamic State (IS). 

“The overall objective of the Swedish mission is to improve the Iraqi defense forces' capability to counter the threat from the terror organisation,” reads the statement.

"Sweden currently has 220 soldiers and military consultants in Kurdistan Region and Iraq and has played a vital role in training the Peshmerga Forces and Iraqi Forces in the past years," according to the Peshmerga Ministry of Kurdistan Region.