Singapore to send medical team to Iraq in 2017: Ng Eng Hen

Photo: Nicholas Yong/Yahoo Singapore

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be deploying a medical team to Iraq in 2017 as part of Singapore’s contribution to the multinational coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced in Parliament on Monday (15 August).

The team will be deployed for about three months to address the healthcare needs of coalition troops and residents in Iraq, Ng said.

Since December 2014, Singapore has been contributing to the coalition by deploying a liaison officer, an intelligence planner and an imagery analyst team to the combined task force headquartered in Kuwait.

SAF’s KC-135 tankers, a military aerial refueling aircraft, have also been deployed, Ng said.

“Our deployment in Iraq will complement existing coalition medical resources. Through this deployment, our personnel will also gain good operational experience.

“The exact size, composition and capabilities of the medical support team will be determined after our Needs, Assessment and Survey team assesses the situation,” Ng added.

This is not the first time Singapore has deployed a medical team for overseas operations. A medical team was also deployed to Afghanistan between 2008 and 2011.

Ng reiterated the government’s view that the threat posed by terrorism is long term and that the campaign against ISIS will not end quickly.