ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Ursula von der Leyen, Germany's defense minister, revealed that the number of German military personnel and advisors will be reduced by 50 because the fight against extremism is changing.
"All in all ... we had over the last mandate we had 150, now we will more focus on the specialists, so we will go down to a number that is below 100,” Leyen told reporters in Erbil on Monday.
She met with officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government including Interior Minister and acting Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari in Erbil on Monday.
Leyen pointed out that the mission "will change," noting the first phase was the "acute fight against Daesh."
"We were deeply impressed about what the Peshmerga were able to perform... Now, it's the time to establish sustainable structures in the MoD, with the Peshmerga, and to teach a lot of functions that are necessary for very modern armed forces,” she added.
German Defense Ministry Ursula von der Leyen (left) is greeted by KRG Interior Minister and acting Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari in Erbil on September 17, 2018. Photo: Mohammed Shwani | AFP
"An example, I remember four years ago we started with medical advice on a very basic way just for the survival of wounded soldiers and Peshmerga,” said Leyen.
Leyen inaugurated the first phase of a Peshmerga hospital during a visit to Erbil in February. The project cost €6 million.
“Today, four years later, we are building together the Peshmerga clinic — hospital. And we are working on a concept to run this Peshmerga hospital and today we have very modern equipment for the Peshmerga that you are able to use for yourself and to teach others how to use it...” she added.
Leyen also inspected her country's forces and the Peshmerga.
She visited Taji on Sunday, committing to help rebuild the country's military.
“The fight against IS left deep wounds and scars in the country. It will take patience ... to strengthen Iraq again,” Reuters quoted Leyen as saying.
Germany is a member of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition and as a NATO member is expected to contribute to the organization's future training efforts.
“This is about a reconstruction of a country in all areas," she added.
Leyen, who maintained her post in the new German government, faces domestic political pressure to return troops home as the ISIS conflict winds down in Syria and Iraq.
It is yet to be determined how much support the NATO training mission in Baghdad will provide to Erbil. The Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga are enshrined forces in the Iraqi constitution.
Updated at 2:34 p.m.
