The NATO has withdrawn all personnel from its advisory mission in Iraq, relocating hundreds of troops to Europe as the fallout from the ongoing Iran conflict continues to spread across the region.
The alliance confirmed on Friday that its forces had been safely redeployed, bringing an end for now to its on-ground presence in Iraq under the mission.
In a statement, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, thanked Iraqi authorities and allied nations for supporting the safe evacuation of personnel.
A NATO official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the withdrawal involved “several hundred” troops. The mission’s operations will now continue from a military headquarters in Naples.
The NATO Mission in Iraq is non-combat in nature and focuses on training, advising and supporting Iraqi security forces to strengthen their operational capacity.
The withdrawal comes amid growing instability linked to the Iran war, which has already triggered similar moves by countries including Poland, Spain and Croatia, all of which have recently pulled troops out of the Middle East.
Despite the relocation, NATO insisted its commitment to supporting Iraq remains unchanged, with officials praising the professionalism of personnel who continued operations under increasingly difficult conditions.
The decision underscores the widening impact of the conflict, as military alliances adjust their posture in response to rising security risks across the Gulf region.
