Drills "confirm KFOR preparedness"

KFOR units staged five military exercises throughout Kosovo between January 15 and 24, the NATO-led forces in the province said.

(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, February 26, 2010

The drills "confirmed that they are ready to react to any situation which could pose a threat to security on the entire territory of Kosovo", said a statement.

The KFOR command's release states that the exercises were conducted so as to check the full operational capability of multinational combat groups after the structural changes in the international military forces have taken place.

More than 5,000 soldiers from 31 countries, 700 tactical vehicles on land, and 21 helicopters for air support, were included in this military simulation of real-life battle conditions, KFOR said.

According to KFOR, the exercises confirmed that the multinational battle groups are "fast, very flexible, mobile, and ready to deploy in response to any situation which might endanger security on the whole territory of Kosovo".

KFOR said there will be further exercises so that the groups could be trained and their operational capability preserved at the highest possible level, "which should ensure safer environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo".

KFOR contingent in Kosovo was cut down to 10,000 soldiers at the end of January this year.