Robles grateful for the efforts made by the Land Force (FUTER) in the latest missions linked to Ukraine and the rescue of Afghan collaborators

Robles personally thanked them for "the effort they are making in the latest missions they are carrying out", in particular on the European Eastern Flank and the operation to evacuate Afghan collaborators.

Accompanied by the Army Chief of Staff, Army General Amador Enseñat, she was welcomed by the head of FUTER, Lieutenant General José Rodríguez García, under whose command the "San Marcial" and "Castillejos" Divisions and the Manoeuvre Support Command are currently located.

The main operations in which FUTER personnel are involved range from missions abroad (Lebanon, Mali, Turkey and Iraq) and reinforcement in the eFPLetonia mission, Afghan rescue operations and aid to Ukraine, to forest fire-fighting campaigns and support for the UME on national territory.

The "Irbis II" operation in Pakistan, carried out between July and August of this year, has brought a hundred Afghan families (357 people) to Spain, in which they have participated together with another 14 military personnel from the Land Force.

The minister expressed her gratitude and congratulated "the effort made by the Armed Forces, in this case the Army, putting the lives of its soldiers at risk. This last operation has required a huge effort, a lot of time and a lot of risk".

"Thanks to the Spanish armed forces, more than 3,000 Afghans have found freedom", added Robles about an operation that she described as "very complex and difficult" in which Spain has done everything it could.

The FUTER Headquarters in Seville employs 308 people, including civilian and military personnel, and its main mission is to generate contingents for both international and national missions, to train and instruct, as well as to plan, conduct and execute the multinational missions assigned to it.

In the current situation presented to the minister today, it should be noted that the Legion Brigade (BRILEG) will deploy in the "Libre Hidalgo" operation in Lebanon, which Spain is leading under the umbrella of the UN, in November, while the Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC) will do the same in the EUTM mission in Mali.

Other contingents will be deployed in Iraq and Turkey, where the minister highlighted the fact that Spain is the only country that continues in the operation to protect the population with a Patriot anti-missile unit, for which both the Turkish government and NATO have expressly expressed their gratitude.

She also learned about the interventions in the forest fires, which have been particularly intense this year, even since the beginning of June, and the situation of the "Sentinela Gallego" operation, for surveillance, observation and fire deterrence, which has been well consolidated since 2008 thanks to an agreement between the Xunta de Galicia and the Ministry of Defence.

FUTER has also supported Fira de Barcelona this year in the setting up of a welcome centre for Ukrainian refugees prior to the welcome process, which was set up on 15 July and will be maintained until October.

Land Force

The Land Force was created by Royal Decree 912/2002, of 6 September, which develops the basic structure of the Armed Forces, and on 5 May 2005 the constitutional act was held in the Plaza de España in Seville.

FUTER is a group of Army units whose main task is to prepare for the rapid and effective establishment of operational ground structures for military operations.

The Land Force is responsible for: preparing its units and generating the commands and forces required by the operational structure of the Armed Forces that correspond to it, constituting and training Headquarters at Division level and below and, where appropriate, participating in the planning, conduct and execution of operations and exercises for which it is designated.

Units linked to FUTER Headquarters are the 9th Legal Section "Western Andalusia", and the Library and Military History Museum of Seville.

Non official translation