Bulgaria's fourth infantry unit will leave for Iraq in a reduced staff compared to the currently deployed contingent, Defense Minister Nikolay Svinarov announced on Wednesday.

The fourth battalion to take over the coalition peacekeeping mission of Bulgaria from the previous unit will consist of some 430 soldiers instead of 483, as is the current number of staff.

Minister Svinarov attended the last-before-leave tactical drill of the fourth infantry unit held in the Marino Pole training field, where conditions close to those in Iraq were being exercised.

Before leaving for Iraq, in the new Eko base in Diwaniya, the fourth battalion will receive its mission certification November 8-12.

Meanwhile, the Army Staff announced that Bulgarian unit's vanguard and first echelon have already completed Iraq redeployment from Karbala to Diwaniya.

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