Azerbaijani peacekeeping forces

The Baku "N" Military Unit", also known informally as the Azerbaijani Peacekeeping Battalion is the primary peacekeeping unit of the Azerbaijani Land Forces. The Army's peacekeeping detachment was formed in 1997 and was later transformed into a battalion. Soldiers are carefully selected for the Baku N unit. The unit is trained intensively on tactical preparation, sports, foreign languages, contacts with local residents and other subjects.[2] After six months of training, members are sent to join peacekeeping operations.[2]

Azerbaijani Peacekeeping Forces
Azərbaycan sülhməramlı qüvvələri
Azerbaijani peacekeeper in Iraq
Activec.1997 - present
Country Azerbaijan
AllegianceAzerbaijan
Part ofAzerbaijan Armed Forces
HeadquartersBaku
MarchPeace March of the Azerbaijani Peacekeeping Forces (Azərbaycan Sülhməramlı Qüvvələrinin Sülh marşının)
EngagementsUnited Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Azeri peacekeepers during a ceremony recognizing their contribution to Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Ripper in Al Asad.
The members of the peacekeeping forces, led by Major Elshad Rustamov,[1] during the 2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade.
Members of the peacekeeping brigade in full combat uniform during the 2020 Moscow Victory Day Parade.

Since September 1999 Azerbaijani servicemen acted within the NATO/U.S.-led Coalition intervention forces in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, moreover, they are serving under the command of the UN Mission in South Sudan.[3] Azerbaijan also floated the idea of creating peacekeeping units to be deployed in separatist conflict areas of GUAM countries.[4]

Kosovo

The Azerbaijani peacekeeping unit in Kosovo (1 officer, 1 sergeant and 32 soldiers) carried service from September, 1999 within the Turkish battalion. The Azerbaijanis oversaw eighteen settlements in the area. On February 26, 2008, as Kosovo parliament declared independence, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the National Assembly on behalf of withdrawal of Azerbaijani peacekeepers from Kosovo. The address was considered at Assembly session on March 4, 2008 and accepted with eighty seven votes placet, three contra and two abstained.

On April 15 of the same year the platoon returned to Azerbaijan. Overall about 400 Azerbaijani servicemen have administered peacekeeping in Kosovo.

Iraq
Azerbaijani peacekeepers, securing the Haditha Dam

Azerbaijani servicemen were deployed to Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force 7 from 2003. The peacekeeping unit consisted of 14 officers, 16 sergeants and 120 privates, who secured the hydroelectric power station and reservoir in Haditha from August 2003. One company of Azerbaijani peacekeepers commanded by Captain Nasimi Javadov guarded the area of Haditha Dam, which is one of the principal sources of electricity in Iraq.[5] An Azerbaijani delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Defense visited the Hadithah Dam at the invitation of the U.S. Marine Corps officials.[5] During the Iraq peacekeeping one Azerbaijani serviceman (Rafael Agayev) died.[6] He had served in Iraq for one year and on June 27, 2008 Agayev's body was sent to homeland, where he was buried in his native village.[7]

From 2004 the company became part of the USMC led Multi-National Forces West.

Ilham Aliyev’s address to recall the Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Iraq was accepted at the plenary session of National Assembly by eighty six votes placet and one contra.

Four Azerbaijani officers in Iraq (Maj. Huseyn Dashdamirov, Capt. Nasimi Javadov, Capt. Alizamin Karimov and Sr. Lt. Abdulla Abdullayev) have been awarded the US Navy and Marines Corps Achievement Medal.[2][5]

Afghanistan

Azerbaijan joined with platoon to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) consisting of 21 soldiers, one officer and one NCO in November 2002 with the aim of contributing to provision of peace, security and order in Afghanistan.[8]

The Azerbaijani platoon commanded by First Lieutenant Shamil Mammadov performed patrolling duties in the populated district of southern Kabul. On October 2, 2008 the National Assembly passed a decision to send 45 more peacekeepers to Afghanistan.[9] In an interview to Azeri Press Agency Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette said: "As the spokesperson for ISAF on behalf of General McKiernan, the Commander of ISAF, I thank your country, your soldiers, and the families of your soldiers, for their contribution to this vital mission".[10]The number of peacekeepers serving in the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan was raised from 94 to 120 on 9th of January 2018,[11] according to the amendment to the Resolution "On giving consent to the deployment and participation in the relevant operations in Afghanistan of a platoon of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of the battalion of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey and under the general command of NATO structures" by the Milli Majlis on December 29, 2017.[12]

See also

Notes
  1. "Они шагали за родину". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2010-05-10. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  2. "Azerbaijani Officers Receive High US Military Awards" (PDF). Azembassy.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  3. "Azerbaijani peacekeepers started to serve in the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan". mod.gov.az. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  4. "Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan Pledge Closer Ties," Reuters, January 25, 1999
  5. "The Peacekeeping Forces of Azerbaijan" (PDF). Coalition Bulletin. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  6. "Deaths by Country". Icasualties.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  7. News.trend.az
  8. "United States Central Command-Coalition Countries". Centcom.mil. Archived from the original on September 25, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  9. "Azerbaijan to render military assistance to Afghanistan". Azeri Press Agency. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-04-26. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. Suleymanov, Rashad (2009-03-27). "ISAF Commander in Afghanistan: "We highly appreciate Azerbaijani peacekeepers' contributions to ISAF mission"". Baku: Azeri Press Agency. Retrieved 2009-04-26. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. "Azerbaijan increases number of troops deployed to Afghanistan mission". The Defense Post. 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  12. "The number of Azerbaijani peacekeepers participating in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan has increased - VIDEO". mod.gov.az. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
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