Berlin, Europe Brief News – Germany declared the intention to extend its military mission in Iraq until the end of October.
Bundeswehr troops will continue to support the Global Coalition against Daesh, take part in aerial surveillance. They will also provide training to the security forces of Iraq, the German authorities said.
“The deployment is in response to Iraq’s request for assistance and it will focus on the capacity building of Iraqi security forces,” the authorities added.
The mandate will allow the government to deploy up to 500 soldiers until 31 October 2022.
US Withdrawal
Last year, Iraq’s parliament voted to expel the US military from the country following the attack, but the Trump administration has said it does not intend to pull troops out.
At that time, a large rally called for US troops to leave the country to steer clear of another war. Iraqi President Barham Salih tweeted an image of the protest. “Iraqis insist on a state with complete sovereignty that will not be breached,” tweeted Salih.
But a US withdrawal could bring even more trouble, experts say. ISIS continues attacks on the country. However, without US and other foreign troops, the group would have more room to resurge.
At the same time, Iran will be able to expand its already far-reaching powers in Baghdad. Tehran and Washington have competed for influence in Iraq since the US 2003 invasion. I that battle, Iran is already winning.
Its consistent and coherent strategy, which the US lacks, has allowed Tehran to gradually weave itself into the fabric of everyday life in Iraq. It has capitalized on years of war and occupation to form militia groups that have become official factions of the Iraqi military, while economically, it provides an enormous amount of exports that Iraqis have come to rely on.
Germany
