- WIADOMOŚCI
NATO suspends its mission in Iraq
As a result of the war in the Middle East, NATO member states have decided to suspend the training mission in Iraq (NATO Mission Iraq, NMI). Approximately 600 troops have been evacuated.
The decision to withdraw all NATO personnel from Iraq was reportedly made unanimously in response to the US and Israeli attack on Iran. The suspension of the mission is intended to be temporary, lasting until the situation in the region improves. The mission’s objective is to train Iraqi security forces to combat terrorism (including the Islamic State) and to assist in stabilizing the country. It has been operating since 2018 and has since been expanded at the request of the Iraqi government.
On Wednesday, March 18, Spanish Minister of Defence Margarita Robles confirmed that preparations were underway for the evacuation and redeployment of troops stationed in Iraq. The Spanish contingent in the NMI is the largest, and in addition to NATO member states, Austria and Australia also participate in the mission.
Iraq has become one of Iran’s targets for retaliation following the US and Israeli attack on February 28. In Iraq, positions of Iraqi Kurds and the US Embassy were shelled. On March 13, a French soldier was killed in drone strikes on the Mala Kara military base near Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.
