The German armed forces appear to be preparing for a looming military escalation between the United States and Iran. According to “Der Spiegel”, the Operational Leadership Command has decided to significantly reduce German forces in northern Iraq, moving non‑mission‑critical personnel out of the country. This safety measure is deemed necessary because of the “continuing escalation of tensions between the US and Iran” according to a briefing to the Bundestag.
Germany’s mission in Iraq is focused on building up local forces, with the main effort centered on the Kurdish capital Erbil in the north. In Baghdad, only a small number of soldiers serve as advisors. At the height of the deployment, the Bundeswehr had about 300 personnel in the region, though the majority are actually stationed in Jordan. There, the German Air Force maintains a small field camp at al‑Azraq and supports the international anti‑terror coalition, in part by providing tanker aircraft.
At the end of January, the danger level for northern Iraq was raised because of the “increasing risk of a military confrontation with Iran”. The current situation report notes that, given the shared use of bases with US forces, there is an “indirect threat” to German troops. In past tense situations, the Iranian regime has repeatedly attempted to attack US forces in northern Iraq with rockets.