NATO Plans Gradual Return of Iraq Mission to Baghdad in Coming Months

NATO plans to bring its mission in Iraq back to Baghdad over the coming months after evacuating it to a base in Italy because of the war in the Middle East, former Iraq mission commander French General Christophe Hinz said. He said the alliance remains committed to returning and that the general staff is working on several scenarios. The mission will return gradually and in stages, and it will be much smaller than before. Established in 2018 at the request of the Iraqi government, the NATO mission was tasked with advising Iraqi security forces and helping build their capacities. Before the evacuation, the mission included about 750 personnel from 21 nationalities and 500 contractors. In March, all staff were moved to Europe after the attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran at the end of February. Hinz said the decision was difficult for him personally and noted that there had been plans to keep about 300 people there safely. The mission’s phased return is expected to restore NATO’s presence in Baghdad in a reduced format.