Turkish military personnel participating in NATO’s mission in Iraq have been “successfully” withdrawn from the country, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced on Thursday.
Zeki Aktürk, the ministry’s spokesperson, said at a press briefing: “The evacuation of our Armed Forces personnel serving in Baghdad has been successfully completed.”
He added that Türkiye, a core NATO member, had also “assisted in the evacuation of personnel from allied nations.”
Last week, the 32-member alliance announced it was withdrawing all personnel from Iraq due to mounting regional tensions and deteriorating security conditions.
In a statement, Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, said the alliance’s mission in Iraq - launched in 2018 - was relocating “all its personnel” from the Middle East to Europe.
According to a NATO official cited by Reuters, the move involved the departure of “several hundred” NATO personnel from the country.
In a related development, the Turkish Defence Ministry also announced that plans are under way to establish a NATO Corps Headquarters in Türkiye within the framework of the alliance’s Southeast Regional Plan.
According to the ministry, the planned headquarters, which will operate under the command of Turkish military officers, is intended to bolster NATO’s “deterrence and defence” capabilities in the region.
Since the ongoing war between Iran, Israel and the U.S. began almost one month ago, NATO air defences in the Eastern Mediterranean have intercepted three ballistic missiles fired towards Turkish airspace.
The defence ministry, however, was quick to stress that plans to establish a NATO Corps Headquarters in Türkiye had been approved before the conflict began and were not related to recent developments.
Türkiye has been a core NATO member since 1952 and currently fields the alliance’s second-largest army after the U.S.
It continues to play a frontline role in strengthening NATO’s south-eastern flank, particularly amid growing instability in both the Middle East and Black Sea regions.
Later this year, Istanbul will host a landmark NATO Leaders’ Summit, highlighting the country’s strategic importance within NATO’s regional security architecture.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 Apr...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that includes Hezbollah, raising cautious hopes of ...
The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly voted to block an effort to rein in Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations ag...
Georgia’s parliament has approved fast-tracked amendments to the Law on Grants, introducing new exemptions and ...
RRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing is placing China’s diplomacy under closer scrutiny, as it balances its partn...
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly voted to block an effort to rein in Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran.
Georgia’s parliament has approved fast-tracked amendments to the Law on Grants, introducing new exemptions and expanding the state’s role in defining and overseeing foreign funding.
RRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing is placing China’s diplomacy under closer scrutiny, as it balances its partnership with Moscow against strained relations with the U.S.
Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is set to close for the first time since opening in 1999 as it begins an extensive 18-month refurbishment aimed at preserving its status as a global symbol of luxury.
The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
Azerbaijan and Russia have announced a formal settlement over the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 near Aktau, confirming that all outstanding issues, including compensation, have been resolved.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there was a "good chance" of a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel happening soon, after he announced a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
Türkiye is reeling after a second school shooting in as many days, after a 14-year-old student killed nine people - eight pupils and one teacher - and wounded 13 others at a middle school in the south-eastern province of Kahramanmaraş on Wednesday, officials said.
The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly voted to block an effort to rein in Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran.
RRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing is placing China’s diplomacy under closer scrutiny, as it balances its partnership with Moscow against strained relations with the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that includes Hezbollah, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities after weeks of escalating tensions.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Britain and France will co-host virtual talks on Friday (17 April) to ease tensions and restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment