NATO relocates Iraq mission personnel to Europe amid Mideast escalation

NATO has relocated all personnel from its mission in Iraq to Europe, the alliance said on Friday, citing a shift in operational posture amid the current hostilities in the Mideast, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe confirmed that NATO Mission Iraq personnel were safely moved out of the Middle East, with the final staff departing Iraq on March 20.

“I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of NATO personnel from Iraq,” said Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe.

He also praised mission personnel for maintaining operations during the transition.

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Following the relocation, NATO Mission Iraq will continue its work from Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, the statement added.

The mission remains a non-combat mission focused on advising and building the capacity of Iraqi security institutions, it noted.

The statement said that the mission’s objective is to help Iraq develop sustainable, transparent, and inclusive security forces capable of maintaining stability, countering terrorism, and preventing the resurgence of the terror group ISIS (Daesh).

Since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing some 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hostilities have escalated.

⁠Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

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