Thai Humanitarian Assistance Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq

The Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq (Thai: กองกำลังเฉพาะกิจ 976 ไทย-อิรัก) (กกล.ฉก ๙๗๖) is a military unit of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it is currently a part of the Multi-National Force – Iraq The Mission unit is Humanitarian Operation in Iraq, After the successful US invasion of Iraq, Thailand contributed 423 non-combat troops in August 2003 to nation building and medical assistance in post-Saddam Iraq.[1]

Thai Humanitarian Assistance Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq
กองกำลังเฉพาะกิจ 976 ไทย-อิรัก
Active30 September 2003-30 September 2004
CountryThailand
Branch Royal Thai Armed Forces
TypeNon-combatant
RoleHumanitarian Operation
Humanitarian intervention
Peacekeeping Operation
Military engineering
Combat engineer
Military logistics
Combat medic
Size866
Part of Multi-National Force – Iraq
Garrison/HQCamp Lima, Karbala, Iraq
Nickname(s)กกล.ฉก.976 ไทย-อิรัก
(Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq)
Engagements

Troops of the Royal Thai Army were attacked in the 2003 Karbala bombings, which killed two soldiers and wounded five others.[2]

However, the Thai mission in Iraq was considered an overall success, and Thailand withdrew its forces in August 2004. The mission is considered the main reason the United States decided to designate Thailand as a major non-NATO ally in 2003.[3]

Force Overview

Thailand's Task Force 976 Thai-Iraq Consisted of an engineer battalion, six medical teams,a force security platoon, and a support platoon. The Task Force served under Polish command in MND-CS.

Operations
  • The Thai Force deployed to Lima Camp in Karbala in September 2003 to provide engineering support, civil-military operations, and humanitarian assistance. It rebuilt local hospitals and clinics, renovated and reopened schools, and repaired other infrastructure facilities. The Thai engineers also assisted in constructing and repairing MND-CS installations around Karbala,while the medical service teams administered medical care to locals and provided physicians to support the polish medical company.
  • On 27 December 2003, Suicide bombers struck Camp Lima, some 100 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, station (all in Karbala). The Camp Lima attacker rammed his vehicle into the post's wall, killing two Thai Security Troops and wounding five other Thai Soldiers. In all, 6 coalition troop were killed (The other 4 being Bulgarian) and 97 coalition troops were wounded. At least 8 civilians were killed and many more wounded. The attack was atypical, as a majority of the violence at the time was centered on the Sunni Triangle are a around Baghdad. Despite The Thai government decided to keep the Task Force deployed until its original mandate expire on 30 September 2004.

See also

References
  1. Thailand to withdraw troops from Iraq if attacked. Asian Tribune (21 April 2004).
  2. Karbala attacks kill 12, wound dozens. CNN (27 December 2003). Retrieved on 2012-01-18.
  3. Thailand. centcom.mil
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