People visit the 12th Iraqi International Security and Defense Exhibition in Baghdad, Iraq on April 20, 2024. The 12th International Security and Defense Exhibition in Iraq commenced on Saturday in the capital city of Baghdad. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
BAGHDAD, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The 12th International Security and Defense Exhibition in Iraq commenced on Saturday in the capital city of Baghdad, with the participation of 112 weapons production companies from 19 countries.
The four-day event drew together advanced equipment such as unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles, cannons, armored vehicles, radars, rocket launchers, machine guns, and ground support equipment.
Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed al-Abbasi said in a speech at the opening ceremony that "Iraq seeks to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces by learning about the latest global technologies and exchanging experiences in the military-technical fields."
Mohsen al-Mandalawi, Iraq's acting parliament speaker, said in his speech that "there is a need to localize military industries by encouraging state companies and the private sector to take advantage of the great opportunities in Iraq."
"We must always remember that safe and stable countries support peace, but they must be careful to deter any threat," al-Mandalawi said, noting that there were still remnants of the terrorist Islamic State (IS) group, which were seeking opportunities to resume operations.
The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.