Germany has opted for a partial withdrawal of its troops in Iraq and move to Jordan and to Kuwait, to the growing insecurity in the region after the us attack last Friday against the iranian commander Quasem Suleimani. It is, for the moment, a temporary measure, according to the German public channel citing sources in parliament. The Foreign minister, Heiko Maas and minister of Defense, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, reported on the night of this Monday to a parliamentary commission of the decision, according to the same sources.
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the united States sends to Iraq a letter announcing the withdrawal of their troops from Germany helped US in the invasion of Iraq the US leaves Iraq to its diplomatic personnel not essential
The reduction of the troops and their transfer affects a contingent formed by about thirty soldiers deployed in Baghdad and Taji devoted to training tasks and training. The rest of the troops, some 90 soldiers stationed in the north of the country, close to Erbil, will not be displaced for the moment.
In the letter, the holders of Foreign and Defence explained that conversations with the iraqi Government about the continuity of the operation. “Of course, we will respect any sovereign decision of the iraqi government”, indicated in the letter. “We are ready to continue our support in the framework of the international coordination if you want to Iraq and if the situation allows,” says a fragment of the text published by the German press.
Maas warned of the effects of a possible precipitous withdrawal and showed your concern to the chain ZDF. “If the international forces leave Iraq very fast, the fight against ISIS will be finished, the ISIS could grow again and would lead to great instability. No one wants that.”
Germany is supporting the mission to the international struggle against the ISIS with reconnaissance aircraft Tornado and in-flight refueling, as well as military instructors in Iraq; it also participates in the international mission with 415 soldiers, 120 stationed in Iraq, of which 90 were in the northern kurdish, where he instructed the local security forces until he had to interrupt the mission for tensions in the region.
According to the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel, on the night of this Monday, 32 soldiers had abandoned the military camp north of Baghdad on board of an aircraft of the Air Force, and landed shortly after in Jordan. Additionally, three other soldiers stationed at the general headquarters of the coalition in Baghdad, left the country along with other u.s. soldiers, as reported by the EFE agency.
NATO withdraws part of his staff
The Atlantic Alliance is also rethinking its presence in Iraq after the murder of Soleimani. Its secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, announced on Monday the suspension of the training mission of the iraqi security forces on the ground. And this Tuesday has been reported that it will withdraw part of the military personnel in the country, about 500 troops in total.
“we Take all the necessary precautions to protect our people. This includes the temporary relocation of part of the staff in different places both inside and outside of Iraq,” said an official of the coalition in a statement without specifying the new target of his forces.
The measure coincides with a request from the iraqi prime minister to the secretary-general of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. During a telephone conversation held this Tuesday, Adel Abdelmahdi stressed his desire that the international troops leave the country.
Stoltenberg accused on Monday Iran of disturbing the peace in the area following an emergency meeting with the 29 ambassadors of the Atlantic Alliance, and he would not appreciate the murder of Soleimani. “It was a decision of the united States, not of coalition or NATO, but all of the allies are worried by the destabilising activities of Iran in the region”, he noted.
