Covid-19: European countries withdraw from Iraq

European countries have announced the temporary withdrawal of their troops from the anti-Islamic State (IS) coalition and NATO Training Mission (NMI) in Iraq. The withdrawals follow an announcement by Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) on 20 March that it had ceased training Iraqi security forces to reduce the spread of Covid-19 following a decision by the Iraqi military to suspend its own training.

Dutch troops withdrawn from Afghanistan and Iraq arriving at Eindhoven airbase. (Dutch MoD)

The French Armed Forces Ministry announced in a press release on 25 March that it would withdraw about 100 troops involved in the training ’pillar’ of Operation ‘Chammal’ in Iraq and national support elements from the OIR headquarters in Baghdad the next day until the situation allows the resumption of these activities. However, the ministry said it would continue the fight against Islamic State with personnel in OIR structures in Kuwait and Qatar, the French maritime deployment, and air support from Jordan and Qatar.

Spain is temporarily withdrawing 150–200 troops, including Guardia Civil, from Iraq, local media reported on the weekend of 21–22 March. The withdrawal includes Portuguese personnel. The Portuguese Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 26 March that 31 military personnel would return to Portugal from Besmayah, 50 km from Baghdad, plus two soldiers from the embassy, because of Covid-19.