The German armed forces appear to be preparing for a possible military escalation between the United States and Iran. According to the “Spiegel”, the Operational Leadership Command has decided to significantly reduce German forces in northern Iraq. Non‑mission critical personnel were moved out of Iraq as a precautionary measure. The security action is deemed necessary because tensions between the U.S. and Iran are “continuing to rise” as stated in a briefing for the Bundestag.
Germany’s deployment in Iraq focuses on building up local security forces, with a primary concentration in the Kurdish city of Erbil in the north. In Baghdad there are only a handful of soldiers serving as advisors. At its peak, the Bundeswehr had about 300 troops deployed, although most of them are now based in Jordan. In Jordan, the Luftwaffe maintains a small airfield at al‑Azraq, where it has operated for years to support the international anti‑terrorism coalition, providing tankers and other assistance.
By the end of January, the danger level for northern Iraq was raised due to the “increasing risk of a military confrontation with Iran”. A current situation report notes that shared use of bases with U.S. forces creates a “potential threat” for the Bundeswehr. Historically, the Iranian regime has, in tense moments, attempted to target U.S. forces in northern Iraq with missiles.
