Iraq’s Defence Minister returns hundreds of officers

Iraq’s Minister of Defence Saadoun al-Dulaimi Iraq’s Minister of Defence Saadoun al-Dulaimi, announced in a press statement in Nineveh, north of the country that the number of officers who returned to service in the Iraqi army in Nineveh reached 209 officers. He clarified that, “they were returned to service according to their former categories and ranks.” This announcement was in made in front several police officials.
The Head of the Iraqi government Nouri al-Maleki, had affirmed on 8 June 2012 that all governorates were notified that these officers returned to service or retired and pointed out that those who return to service came from lower ranks.
The second brigade of the Iraqi army centred in Nineveh, received applications on 18 June 2012 by officers wishing to return to military service.
The Ministry of Defence had declared in February 2010 that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki commanded the return of former army members who wished to return to service and explained that the decision would include 20,400 officers inside and outside of Iraq.
The current Iraqi army is made up of 15 military brigades with 350,000 members. It also has a number of marine boats in Om Kasr Port to protect exporting operations of Iraqi oil in which the country has the biggest reserves in the world.