Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on the 18th of March that it is planned to evacuate and relocate troops serving in Iraq due to the ongoing hostilities in Iran, Reuters reports.
There are currently about 300 Spanish soldiers stationed in Iraq. They are participating in two missions: the international coalition against the Islamic State, which was formed in 2015, and the NATO mission, which has been serving as an advisor to the Iraqi government since 2018.
The Spanish Defense Ministry reported on the 15th of March that a 71-strong special operations unit had already left its base because it was no longer possible to fulfill its mission – to train Iraqi counterterrorism forces.
Robles did not provide further details on where the soldiers would be transferred.
The war that began between the US and Israel on the last day of February has rapidly escalated into a regional conflict, and shows no signs of abating. Spain has criticized the attack and has barred the US from using the military bases it jointly manages in southern Spain.
Other NATO members, including Germany and Norway, have also strongly opposed their presence in the region, citing security risks. Berlin has withdrawn Bundeswehr troops from Lebanon and northern Iraq, while Oslo has announced the relocation of around 60 Norwegian soldiers stationed in the Middle East.
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