Spain Seeks Arabic-Speaking Women for Special Forces in Anti-Terror Push

According to the statements of Margarita Robles, Minister of Defense, the United Nations has called for the recruitment of women into the army, in order to bring their touch to conflicts around the world.

The United Nations and NATO give absolute priority to women who speak the Arabic language, in order to participate in the conflicts in Iraq and Libya. This criterion is of paramount importance from an operational point of view.

In addition, Robles visited the Special Operations Command within the Spanish army, where women have joined the elite units. During her visit, the minister attended a practical exercise where the military launched an attack, similar to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, against a terrorist site.

For the minister, the high command must be fully prepared for non-conventional battles not only in terms of armaments and logistics but also "by assimilating the social and cultural environment of the territories".

During the exercises, certain missions are entrusted to women soldiers, such as the inspection of women at checkpoints in conservative societies, where it is possible to obtain sensitive and crucial information from indigenous women.

The Special Operations Center in Spain has nearly 1,000 elements, 10% of whom are women. However, the female presence in the Spanish army, outside the combat centers, is predominant.