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The Iraqi parliament on Sunday (January 5th) adopted a non-binding resolution demanding the expulsion of troops from the international anti-Jihadist coalition. France and the United States have nevertheless announced that they will maintain their presence. Others have decided to partially withdraw.
After the targeted assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in an American strike in Baghdad, the resolution adopted on Sunday by the Iraqi parliament calling on the government to " end the presence of foreign troops " has led several countries to review their presence in the country , although this resolution is not binding and the Iraqi executive has not yet responded to it.
The largest contingent of the international coalition engaged against the Islamic State group is American; the United States has 5,200 soldiers deployed in multiple bases in Iraq. It is also made up of, among others, 500 Canadian soldiers, 400 British, 200 French and 120 German, as well as numerous civilian subcontractors.
■ NATO
As early as Saturday, the Atlantic Alliance announced the suspension of its training operations in Iraq, intended to fight against the Islamic State organization. This Tuesday, it announced the withdrawal of part of its staff. “ We take all the necessary precautions to protect our staff. This includes the temporary repositioning of part of the personnel in different places inside and outside Iraq, "said an official of the organization. However, NATO " maintains a presence in Iraq ".
■ Canada
Canada announced Tuesday a pause in its military operations in Iraq and the displacement of some of its approximately 500 soldiers deployed there to Kuwait. " Over the next few days, troops will temporarily leave Iraq to settle in Kuwait, thanks to planning efforts by the coalition and NATO, " said Canadian Chief of Staff General Jonathan Vance , in a letter to military families posted on Facebook. " We are taking these steps to ensure the safety and security of our workforce. "
The general justified this " operational pause " in Canadian operations by the " complex " situation in Iraq after the death of General Soleimani.
■ Germany
Germany has carried out in recent hours a partial withdrawal of its soldiers stationed in Iraq. The maneuver was not the most complex, says our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibaut . Thirty-two soldiers stationed at Taji where they were responsible for training the Iraqi forces were transported to Jordan in an Airbus A400M. Three members of the Bundeswehr who were based at the headquarters of the anti-IS coalition in Baghdad themselves left the country with American colleagues.
German defense and foreign affairs ministers informed the German parliament on Monday evening and justified the withdrawal for security reasons and after the US commanding officer responsible for the coalition asked to take such action.
The Bundeswehr mission to Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan where local security forces are trained is not affected by this withdrawal. Ninety German soldiers are stationed there. The German government wants to discuss with its Iraqi counterpart the continuation or not of the mandate of the Bundeswehr on the spot, but Berlin says it wants to respect the sovereignty of the host country after the parliament vote in Baghdad Sunday asking for the withdrawal of the international coalition from the country.
■ Romania
In a statement, the Romanian Minister of Defense announced on Tuesday the relocation of his 14 soldiers present in Iraq as part of NATO missions, adding that their mission was " interrupted ". However, he did not specify whether these soldiers will leave Iraq or be moved to another base in the country. Their mission was to train instructors for the Iraqi army, to advise officials of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and other institutions.
■ France
The French authorities hammer it: France remains in Iraq. For the Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly, the priority remains the fight against the Islamic State group. “ The easing of tensions in Iraq and the region is essential. The international anti-Islamic State coalition must be able to continue its mission, ”she said.
To continue this mission, France has a thousand soldiers deployed in Operation Chamal in the Middle East. This consists on the one hand of supporting the action of the local forces engaged on the ground against Daesh and of striking the military capacities of the terrorist group, and on the other hand of forming Iraqi national security units.
This training component is entrusted to the Monsabert Task Force, whose role is to advise and assist the 6th Iraqi Division daily to help it gain autonomy. Two hundred French soldiers are thus present on Iraqi soil.
■ Italy
Rome will keep its soldiers in Iraq and the region, the defense ministry said. According to media reports, Italy has 1,900 soldiers in and around Iraq, including 300 in Kuwait, around 450 who train Kurdish fighters in Erbil, 90 in Kirkuk and 50 in Baghdad.
■ The American case
The letter sent Monday evening to the Iraqis by the commander of the American military operations in the country threw the disorder. William H. Seely announced in this missive the redeployment of forces with a view to withdrawal. " A mistake, " quickly corrected the American chief of staff in Washington. The United States does not " leave Iraq ", its policy is unchanged, said Pentagon chief Mark Esper again on Monday. For Donald Trump, an American withdrawal would currently be " the worst thing " for Iraq. " At some point, we will leave, " " but this moment has not come, " assured the American president.