Germany is moving some of its military personnel from Iraq to neighboring countries over security concerns. The government told lawmakers, days after the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a US drone strike.
About 30 of the 120 German soldiers who mainly train Iraqi security forces will be redeployed to Jordan and Kuwait, the government told parliament in a letter on Monday.
Iraq's parliament called on Sunday for the US and other foreign troops to leave after killing Iran's most prominent general, Qassem Soleimani on Friday in a US drone strike on his convoy at a Baghdad airport.
The US-led joint command for fighting ISIS ordered drawdowning German troops, the German government said. This would apply mainly to troops in Baghdad and Taji, where there are close to 30 German troops.
Besides, out of the 120 German soldiers, about 90 are in the Kurdish area in the north of the country.
The German government also said the forces could move back to Iraq if their training mission resumes.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also told public broadcaster ZDF his concerns on possible resurgence of ISIS.
"Nobody really wants that," he said.
