Due to the risk of a military escalation between the United States and Iran, the German armed forces have reduced its presence in Iraq to an absolute minimum. According to Spiegel, German soldiers have again been transferred from Iraq to neighboring Jordan. Military circles say that, because the situation remains highly tense, additional non‑mission‑critical personnel were flown out from Erbil in northern Iraq.
Within the framework of a NATO mission, the Bundeswehr supports the buildup of the local army in Iraq. With the exception of a few advisers in Baghdad, most German troops are based in Erbil, the predominantly Kurdish area of the north. In early February the Bundeswehr had already cut back its presence in Erbil; in light of the growing risk of a US strike against Iran, a further withdrawal of soldiers was decided.
Military sources said that on Wednesday a small double‑digit number of personnel were flown out. Earlier in the month the Germans had about 300 soldiers deployed in Iraq and Jordan as part of the same mission, most of whom were stationed in Jordan.