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On January 7th, NATO announced that it was withdrawing a part of its forces from Iraq. A spokesman for the trans-Atlantic military alliance said that “the safety of our personnel is paramount” and that some troops would be moved “both inside and outside of Iraq.”
“NATO maintains a presence in Iraq. And we are prepared to continue our training and capacity-building when the situation permits,” the spokesman told German news agency dpa.
This follows the decision to stop all NATO training missions in Iraq as of January 5th.
The NATO training mission is separate from the US-led coalition in Iraq, which has around 5,200 soldiers stationed in Iraqi bases.
Around 500 trainers, advisers and support staff have been taking part in the training mission.
Germany already withdrew some of its soldiers from Iraq, it has a contingent of 130 and on January 7th 35 of them were relocated to Kuwait or Jordan.
Hungary’s defense minister Tibor Benko said Hungarian soldiers in Iraq were ready for evacuation “if necessary”, the official MTI agency reported. Benko added that unless Hungary’s soldiers were asked to withdraw, they would continue their mission.
Around 200 Hungarian soldiers are stationed in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, both as part of NATO’s training mission and the broader coalition against ISIS.
Approximately 500 Canadian troops are present in Iraq and an unspecified number of them will be moved temporarily to Kuwait in the coming days to ensure their safety amid rising tensions in the region, General Jonathan Vance, chief of defense staff announced.
A letter from General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, to Canadians about our deployed personnel in the Middle East. #OpIMPACT pic.twitter.com/Y0IdmZdo9f
— Canadian Forces (@CanadianForces) January 7, 2020
Romania also announced a part of its contingent was leaving Iraq.
“A part of our military in Iraq has already been relocated,” said Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
Romania’s Defense Ministry earlier announced the “temporary suspension” of Romania’s “mission of instruction of Iraqi troops”.
According to the ministry, “the 14 Romanian military personnel who were on a mission in Iraq” were to be “temporarily relocated to another base of the [NATO] coalition”.
“Romania remains firmly committed to the battle against international terrorism,” said the Defence Ministry in a statement that also voiced Bucharest’s willingness to redeploy its military personnel in Iraq in line with “the evolution of the situation in the area”.
The Croatian Defense Ministry, too, announced that it was relocating its mission from Iraq to Kuwait.
Fourteen Croatian troops were relocated to Kuwait and seven members of a second Croatian contingent, whose mission is over, will return to Croatia.
“We are monitoring the security situation with our allies and appropriate decisions will be made in coordination with the allies,” the Croatian Defense Ministry said.
Slovenia said that the 6 soldiers that are in Iraq, in Erbil, were to remain there for the time being.
Italy said that no withdrawal of its troops from Iraq was planned, and its approximately 50 troops would remain, despite all of them being there for a training mission that’s been halted.
The UK hasn’t announced that any of its approximately 400 troops would be relocated or withdrawn.
Finally, France, too, said that it had no plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Its 160 troops would remain there to contribute in the fight against ISIS, which is Paris’ priority.
Several countries announced travel restrictions to Iraq, such as New Zealand, India, the UK changed its travel advisory as of January 4th.
On January 5th, the US Department of State issued a travel advisory urging all US citizens to immediately depart from Iraq.
The Federal Aviation Administration banned US flights over Iraq and Iran, after Tehran fired more than a dozen missiles from Iranian territory targeting at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition forces.
Taiwan’s largest carrier China Airlines said that it will not fly over Iran or Iraq due to regional tensions.
Singapore Airlines Ltd said after the attack on US bases in Iraq that all of its flights would be diverted from Iranian airspace.
South Korean airline Korean Air said it had been avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace before the attack on US troops.
China, too, diverted all flights away from Iraq and Iran.
Airlines and the United Nations’ aviation agency have started to monitor strategic airspace over Iran and Iraq. With some commercial carriers still serving those countries and others flying over their airspace, the International Air Transport Association (IATA)also issued a statement reminding countries of their obligation to communicate potential risks to civil aviation.
“It is critical that states live up to this obligation as tensions in the Middle East rise,” IATA said.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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- Iranian TV Claims ’80 American Terrorists Killed’ As US And Iraq Deny Any Casualties
- Ukrainian Boeing 737 With 177 Aboard Crashed In Tehran Just A Few Hours After Iranian Strike On US Forces In Iraq
US has no allies but vassals and they don’t want to die for Zionism anymore. They also know that Iran can hit back and just did. GOD BLESS IRAN
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/073679b8c06f0eca015404e1bbe770b812cec24d7ef2ba2e3c1e6c05d9082a59.png
OK all that except that “vassals” stay where their Master tells them to stay. US are not Master to that point obviously.
This is obvious sign to US of the things to come. US will have no military support from their EU “allays” in their reckless hubris inspired adventure that can put world economy in peril . Of course usual stooge (like UK) or two will be always exception to any rule.
As will Australian and NZ Training teams at at-TAJI base
I’m sure Scott Morrison will spew out the same mantra as every Aussie politician. ‘We are committed to the fight against terrorism, blah, blah, blah.’ The truth is if any politician spoke out against Amercian foreign policy, than they wouldn’t have a job.
The CIA and Jew lobby have total control over Australia as Bob Carr mentioned in his book.
Yes, the Australian and NZ TERRORIST Training Teams.
Let’s expect some adult behaviour from US and deescalation. Trump is only alienating the world and Iran looks like a very mature actor. Iran proved its point and now it is time for all to settle down.
Adult behavior …hmm no way, that category doesn’t exist in Whit House vocabulary. Pre-election “behavior”would be much more probable option. They can always minimize Iran’s response (as long as they don’t have many dead soldiers ) declare “victory” and go home to vote Trump 2020. Agree about mature. I think it is obvious to everybody that Iran is not only more mature politically but militarily also. US are Hollywood only, but Iranians are dead serious about killing and get killed. In the case of US invasion Iranian ground forces would eat Americans alive! So if they can’t really start the war and finish it to their advantage than U.S. should better go home quickly and quietly.
Allies are not supposed to die for rebel generals in Pentagon instigated by ruling elite of the US.
But they often do – Australia lost 503 KIA in Vietnam, 50 plus so far in Afghanistan
Australia has a history being an obedient colonial poodle.
Germany needs to close Ramstein air base.
They can always ask US politely. But since they know the answer already they don’t waist their breath and neither should you.
I have absolutely nothing but contempt for the German governments – CDU-SPD-Coalitions whatever they NEVER stand up to US bullying – case in point Nordstream2 they cave in AGAINST Germany’s own interests to US blackmail, ditto US bases, ditto German gold reserves stolen by US etc.. What a bunch of weaklings.
They”cave in” to preserve their political carriers. Just think of Japan. Their women were victims of US soldiers rape ever since WW2 to the present day. Not to mention all the rest… The elites in charge of the Germany are there because they have accepted certain limits, a framework for their political activity and access to power . Those who refused to have those limits, could never get into the inner circles of the power.
Germany is occupied country. And curtain that have made it “stealth” is about to fall off completely. The only difference with the past is that people in Germany are much more aware of that situation than they were in the past… And also US had purpose in Cold War And now they have nothing with much lower reputation than they had during Cold War on top of that.
Americans wanted to leave more than 10 years ago and locals and mayor promptly organized a meeting to beg them stay or the town could go bankrupt since the US soldiers fill that pubs and groceries.
Yes ” US soldiers fill that pubs and groceries” except you forget tiny detail; How much that base costs German government? Yes exactly costs are paid by German and not by US government. So who is really having benefit in having that base there?
Rats are fleeing from sinking ship.
like ruskies from WP and USSR
get lost creature.
ahaahhahaha they all need to leave ASAP!!!! no military forces other than the ones of the countries that are part of the middle east should be there
It seems that US neocons have dropped another turd in the punchbowl. Iraiqi’s can sleep safe at nights knowing that Slovenia will not withdraw its troops, lol. Things are certainly going to get lively in downtown Kuwait.
Macron is still bleating the usual outdated rubbish regarding ‘terrorists’ in Iraq. No surprise there because he doesn’t have an original thought in his head. Another Napoleon he ain’t.
The British admin needs to consider the last occasion they lied to the British public and went on to spent billions of their NHS and social funds on illegal attacks against other nations. The British people are still smarting from that one.
Hahahaha nice post man