Germany, Netherlands suspend operations in Iraq over security threat
A German defense ministry spokesman said Berlin had no indications of its own of any impending attacks. A Dutch source cited an unspecified security threat.
By REUTERSGerman Minister of Foreign Affairs Maas speaks at the Foreign Ministry in Iraq Dec. 17, 2018(photo credit: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)
Germany and the Netherlands said on Wednesday they were suspending military training operations in Iraq as the United States warned of increased threats from Iran-backed forces amid an escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran.A German defense ministry spokesman said Berlin had no indications of its own of any impending attacks on Western interests by Iran and said the training programs could resume in the coming days.A Dutch government source also announced a suspension of military training operations, citing an unspecified security threat.Germany has 160 soldiers involved in training Iraqi forces trying to contain Islamic State militants. The Netherlands has 169 military and civilian personnel in Iraq, including about 50 in Erbil, where they are helping to train Kurdish troops.Dutch news agency ANP said Dutch forces had been ordered to remain indoors since Sunday.Earlier on Wednesday the U.S. State Department ordered the pullout of some employees from both its embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil.The order came as tensions build up between the United States and Iran. Washington has applied new sanctions pressure on Tehran and sent additional forces to the Middle East, saying there is an increased threat from Iran to U.S. interests there.
