Hungary mulls sending troops to Iraq
EU and NATO member Hungary says it is considering sending 100 troops to join the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State militants in Iraq following an American request. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told journalists on March 10 that a parliament decision could come in mid-April "and Hungarian troops could arrive in Iraq during the second half of […]EU and NATO member Hungary says it is considering sending 100 troops to join the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State militants in Iraq following an American request. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told journalists on March 10 that a parliament decision could come in mid-April "and Hungarian troops could arrive in Iraq during the second half of May."
Szijjarto said, "Hungary is already a part of the conflict with the Islamic State, because it belongs to the Western community of values, which was attacked by the terrorist organization." He said the soldiers' role would be to protect a training centre in Iraqi Kurdistan's capital Erbil, in the north, where coalition troops are training local forces. The mission needs approval by a two-thirds majority in parliament, meaning that Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party needs one opposition vote.
