U.S.-led Coalition members battling Islamic State are temporarily withdrawing troops from Iraq as training of both the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga are halted due to security concerns and uncertainty.
Halting of the ongoing training of Iraqi forces by coalition members follows repeated attacks by suspected pro-Iran militias. NATO on Tuesday 7th January 2020 announced that it has also stopped its training in Iraq, and that it would also withdraw some of its 500 trainers from the country while relocating others.
A statement from German ministry of defense highlighted that the Coalition had also suspended training of the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Germany on Tuesday said that it would move 35 soldiers involved in the ISF training mission into neighboring Kuwait and Jordan.
Croatian also said it will withdraw its forces to Kuwait, while Slovenia’s six soldiers staying in Erbil are set to be moved.
Romania is set to move its 14 troops from Baghdad to another base in Iraq, according to open sources reports. France said it had strengthened the protection of its 160 soldiers, and the United Kingdom has urged Iraq to allow British troops to stay in the country but relocated some personnel from Baghdad to Taji.
Finland has not yet made a decision about pulling troops – such a move would require an agreement by parliament and the president – but soldiers training the Peshmerga in Erbil have been asked to stay on base.
Canada said it would move some of its 500 military members from Iraq to Kuwait.
Coalition personnel generally move freely around the Kurdistan Region as it is considered to be safer than the rest of Iraq.
U.S. has maintained that its troops are not leaving Iraq. We are in Iraq, and we are there to support Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government to become a strong, independent and prosperous country – Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper
The Coalition boasts 81 members, including NATO, but not all countries contribute troops.
