German military ends Iraq mission as US-led anti-ISIS coalition prepares to leave
Germany's military mission to Iraq formally ended on Wednesday, in the first major departure from the Kurdistan Region as part of the US-led, anti-ISIS coalition’s broader withdrawal from the country by September 30, Iraqi authorities announced. The commander of German forces deployed abroad, Gunter Schneider, attended the official ceremony at Camp Stefan near Erbil International Airport. Also…
The German military mission in Iraq has officially ended, marking a significant withdrawal from the US-led coalition's broader mission against ISIS by the September 30 deadline. The ceremony, attended by German forces commander Gunter Schneider, Iraqi Deputy President Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, and the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shorish Ismail, signified the closure of Germany's advisory role against ISIS in the region.
German troops had been stationed in Erbil since 2015, providing critical training, advice, and support to Peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS. The withdrawal, which includes the closure of Camp Stefan in Erbil, follows the US decision to remove its protection force from the multinational site due to heightened security risks.
The German military's departure comes as Iraq and Kurdistan prepare to transition to a new chapter in their security relations, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional threats without direct combat support from coalition forces.
Brief written by urgent.news from The National UAE's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
