Tensions with Iran: Germany and the Netherlands have suspended their missions in Iraq for security reasons

The German army took the initiative. First thing on Wednesday he reported the suspension until further notice of his Iraqi military training operations, for the risk caused by recent tensions with Iran in the region.

"The Bundeswehr has suspended its training"Spokesman for the German Defense Ministry, Jens Flosdorff, told reporters that he was answering a question about the German presence in Iraq in the face of tensions with Iran in the region.

The spokesman spoke of "more vigilance" of the German army in the country, without excluding that the training exercises can be resumed "in the coming days" if the situation allows it.

The decision was made as well as other countries that train soldiers in the regionadded the spokesperson. In fact, an hour later, the Dutch government announced the suspension of a mission to Iraq providing badistance to local authorities because of a security threat, the news agency reported. . ANP.

Dutch military personnel train Iraqi forces in Erbil, northern Iraq, as well as other foreign troops. For its part, the German army currently has 160 soldiers deployed in Iraq, where he trains soldiers, and also in Iraqi Kurdistan, where they support peshmerga, Kurdish fighters.

The measures of Germany and Holland were known after the US State Department had ordered to all the non-essential staff leaving the embbady in Baghdad and the consulate in Erbil, the diplomatic delegations in Iraq.

The United States has increased pressure on Iran in recent days, accusing it of plan "imminent" attacks in the region and strengthen its military presence in the Gulf with the dispatch of an aircraft carrier, a squadron of bombers and a ship of 39; amphibious badault.

"The US government's ability to provide routine and emergency services to US citizens in Iraq is extremely limited," said a statement from the US State Department, which also recommends not to visit Iraq because of the danger of "terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict".

On Sunday, the US embbady in Baghdad had already asked its citizens to "stay alert" in the face of heightened tensions in Iraq, keep a low profile and avoid American-badociated recreation areas.

Upset tensions between the United States and Iran affect the entire Middle East, especially after Donald Trump's national security advisor, John Bolton announced early May the shipment of the aircraft carrier USS Abrahm Lincoln in the Gulf to send a "clear message" to Iran.

Washington justified the measure claiming to have receivedor an intelligence report in which Tehran has called on guerrillas and terrorist groups under its protection in the region to attack US personnel and their interests.

But the truth is that the two countries are at the heart of an escalation of tensions since that in 2018, Trump announced the withdrawal of his country from the nuclear deal signed in 2015 by Iran, citing as reason the expansion of the Persian influence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

United States at this time he defeated in a short time the Iraqi army troops and caused the fall of the dictator Saddam HusseinBut he had to face a long and bloody eight-year war against many insurgent groups, including some jihadists, who arose in chaos and withstood the American presence in the country.

In contrast to these movements, one of the spokesmen of the international coalition against jihadism in Syria and Iraq rejected Tuesday that Iran threatens more and more its troops. "Iran-backed forces in Iraq or Syria have not increased the threats," said British Major General Christopher Ghika, who gave a press conference in Baghdad.

However, the UK Department of Defense issued a clarifying statement Wednesday. "Your comments are based on daily military operations and his only goal is to defeat ISIS. (Ghika) made it clear in his statement to the Pentagon that there is a "Wide range of threats to US forces and coalition in this part of the world". There have always been some and that is why we have a wide range of protective measures. The United Kingdom has always been clearly concerned about the destabilizing behavior of Iran in the region. "