Accompanied by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Czech Army, Brig. Gen. Petr Mikulenka, and the Czech Ambassador to Baghdad, Mr. Jan Vyčítal, Minister Stropnický flew to the Balad Air Base, 80 km north of Baghdad, where a Czech Air Force advisory team is carrying out a training mission for Iraqi Air Force pilots flying Czech-produced L-159 Alca light combat aircraft. The L-159 aircraft are already being deployed in combat missions against the ISIL terrorist movement.

In the further course of the visit, the Minister was received by Lt. Gen. Othman Ghanem, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Armed Forces and acting Minister of Defense of Iraq. The two ministers discussed a plan for the deployment of a Czech Army field surgical team to support the Iraqi military campaign against ISIL, as well as possibilities of further defense cooperation - including other types of military training, and defense industry cooperation. Minister Ghanem expressed his deep appreciation of Czech military support to Iraq.

Minister Stropnický concluded his visit with a short inspection of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Baghdad, operating under special security measures.