NATO personnel engaged in Iraq will be multiplied by eight, from 500 to 4,000 soldiers, Jens Stoltenberg announced Thursday (February 18th).

The secretary general of the Alliance said that these troops were engaged in a training mission for the armed forces, to help them fight against the Islamic State (IS) organization.

"Today, we decided to expand NATO's training mission in Iraq in order to support Iraqi forces in their fight against terrorism and to ensure that ISIS [ISIS] does not return . Our mission will gradually increase from 500 to around 4,000 people, "Jens Stoltenberg said during a press conference.

Regarding Afghanistan, NATO has not taken any "final decision" regarding the withdrawal of its armed forces engaged in the country, and its members will continue to debate this as the May 1 deadline approaches. said Jens Stoltenberg.

"The NATO allies will continue to consult closely and coordinate in the coming weeks," he said during a videoconference of NATO defense ministers.

Under the agreement signed in February 2020 between the United States and the Taliban, the contingents of the states engaged in Afghanistan must have left the country by May 1, 2021.

With AFP

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