Germany withdraws troops from Baghdad and central Iraq

(B2) Berlin has decided to temporarily withdraw some of its soldiers deployed in Iraq in the coalition against Daesh (Inherent Resolve). As soon as decided, immediately done. The first evacuated soldiers arrived in Kuwait and Jordan. A movement that could be generalized since it emanates from a recommendation from the command of the operation

The decision of the Iraqi Parliament has sown alarm

It was the resolution adopted by the Iraqi Parliament, asking the Iraqi interim government to withdraw foreign troops, which sounded the alarm in Berlin. " We immediately started new talks with the Iraqi side to clarify how it intends to shape its future relationship with the international anti-Islamic State coalition. “ thus indicate in a letter addressed to the Bundestag Monday evening, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Heiko Maas and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, related by our colleague in Berlin, Thomas Wiegold of Augergeradeaus.

A temporary withdrawal pending clarification

Germany intends, in any case, respect Iraqi sovereignty ". High-level representatives will be sent to Baghdad for " Consultations ". " En pending this clarification, the German contingent in Iraq will be temporarily reduced ". Reasons for " security " taken " on order of the international coalition (Combined Joint Task Force Inherent Resolve). " Should training resume, these forces may be redeployed. ".

Evacuation to Jordan and Kuwait

Two sites in particular are concerned: Baghdad and Taji (in central Iraq). The 32 German soldiers from Taji have already arrived in Jordan on Tuesday morning (January 7), evacuated by a German Air Force A400M to the al-Azraq base, a spokesman for the army confirmed. Bundeswehr. Three soldiers present at the operation's headquarters in Baghdad have been transferred to Kuwait. NB: Most of the German contingent (about 90 soldiers), stationed in Erbil, in the autonomous Kurdish region, is not affected by this partial withdrawal.

(NGV, with Thomas Wiegold in Berlin)

Updated 18 p.m. with new photo and source Bundeswehr