{
  "id": 7775810,
  "title": "Armed forces proved capabilities in NATO mission, says veteran",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/armed-forces-proved-capabilities-in-nato-mission-says-veteran",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T11:13:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1534194/armed-forces-proved-capabilities-nato-mission-says-veteran"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Veterans report that Malaysia's armed forces demonstrated their exceptional skills and professionalism when they became the first Asian military force to take part in NATO's Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia in 1995. Major General (Rtd) Datuk Mohamad Raih Ismail, a former military officer, explained that the Malaysian contingent underwent stringent NATO assessments before they could join the challenging IFOR mission. He highlighted that the transition from a peacekeeping force to IFOR entailed relocating 1,533 personnel and numerous vehicles, including Condor armoured vehicles, through heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. Remarkably, this operation was executed flawlessly with no accidents over a one-month period. Raih shared this experience during a discussion titled \"Veteran ATM: Mewarisi Kehebatan, Memperkasa Masa Hadapan\" on Bernama TV's Apa Khabar Malaysia programme. The British military took notice of Malaysia's accomplishment, impressed by the fact that their own forces had experienced accidents and fatalities while dealing with extreme weather conditions. Additionally, Raih spoke about Malaysia's involvement in Operation United Shield in Somalia in 1995. In this operation, Task Force Malaysia, which included two ships, KD Mahawangsa and KD Inderasakti, protected the withdrawal of United Nations (UN) peacekeepers under UNOSOM II. Alongside military forces from seven nations including the United States, Italy and France, the mission was successfully completed on March 2, 1995, without any issues. Raih emphasized that the most significant achievement was demonstrating that Malaysian forces could collaborate effectively with foreign military forces at a highly professional level. Joining the armed forces in 1970 after being commissioned into the Royal Malay Regiment, Raih held various roles as staff and commander at company, battalion, brigade, and division levels. He also served as an assistant defense attaché in the Philippines during the People Power Revolution.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The professionalism and capabilities of the armed forces came to the fore on the world stage when it made history as the first military force from Asia to participate in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) mission through the Implementation Force (IFOR), a peace enforcement force, in Bosnia in 1995.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : MAF’s Capabilities, Professionalism Shine On International Stage - Armed Forces Veteran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/general-mafa-s-capabilities-professionalism-shine-on-international",
        "published": "2026-09-16T08:23:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}