Parliamentary investigative team formed after deaths of two military cadets

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliamentary Security and Defense Committee on Thursday announced the formation of an investigative team to examine the deaths of two military students and the hospitalization of others during the 89th course at the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar.

“The Security and Defense Committee has formed a follow-up team to uncover the circumstances of the death of two students and the health complications of others at the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar,” the committee said in a statement. The team will be led by committee chair MP Karim Aliawi Al-Mohammadi.

The committee said the team will coordinate with relevant agencies to gather information and submit a detailed report with recommendations to the Speaker of Parliament. The goal is to “take appropriate measures” to improve training conditions and ensure the safety of military students.

The incident occurred Tuesday when more than 100 students in the 89th training course suffered from heat exhaustion, dehydration and extreme fatigue. Two cadets died, and several others were hospitalized — some in critical condition.

The committee said it is “closely monitoring the health developments of the injured students” and pledged to work toward preventing such incidents in the future.

On Wednesday, Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi ordered the dismissal of the dean of the Fourth Military College and the commander of the relevant regiment following the incident.