Germany says it is reducing its military presence in Iraq, in the latest fallout from the United States assassination of Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.
The German government told parliament in a letter on Monday that about 30 soldiers stationed in Baghdad and Taji would be moved to Jordan and Kuwait.
Germany has about 415 soldiers in the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh. About 120 of them are stationed in Iraq.
A German Defense Ministry spokesman told AFP that the withdrawal would "begin shortly."
According to the German government, the partial withdrawal was ordered by the US-led joint command for fighting Daesh.
The move comes after Iraqi lawmakers unanimously approved a bill demanding the withdrawal of all US-led foreign military forces following the US airstrike that killed Lt. Gen. Soleimani.
Iraq has condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said late Monday that the basis for the German military presence in Iraq was "that we have an invitation from the Iraqi government and parliament."
"If that is no longer the case... then the legal basis for us to be there is missing. We have to clarify this with those responsible in Baghdad as soon as possible," Maas said.
A US drone carried out an airstrike at Baghdads international airport early on Friday, assassinating Lt. Gen. Soleimani, who was the commander of the Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), as well as eight other people.
Iran has pledged a "harsh revenge" against America for the assassination.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/12550
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