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A German military trainer looks at Kurdish Peshmerga shooting during a training in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, on March 9, 2016. Photo: AFP/Safin Hamed
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The German parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly voted in favor of its government’s request to extend Berlin’s military mission in Iraq for another 15 months.
In September, the German government requested parliamentary authorization to prolong its military presence in Iraq deployment of 500 soldiers until January 31, 2026.
The Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, held a session on the issue on Thursday, and after 40 minutes of debate most of the lawmakers voted in favor of passing the bill - of the 539 members present, only 93 members voted against the continuation and two abstained.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed the decision.
“I greatly welcome the decision of the German government and parliament to extend the mandate of German troops serving in Iraq,” he said in a post on X.
I greatly welcome the decision of the German government and parliament to extend the mandate of German troops serving in Iraq.
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) October 17, 2024
ISIS remains a serious threat to Iraq, regional security and stability. I highly value the presence and contributions of our international coalition…
The German forces have served as part of the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), supporting Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga.
“ISIS remains a serious threat to Iraq, regional security and stability. I highly value the presence and contributions of our international coalition partners in the ongoing fight against terror,” Barzani added.
With bases in Baghdad and Erbil, the German forces have been an essential member of the coalition that was established in October 2014 after ISIS took control of vast swathes of territories in Iraq and Syria.
Consisting of 87 members including 60 countries, the coalition’s stated mission has been “degrading and ensuring Daesh’s enduring defeat,” using an Arabic acronym for the extremist group.
German troops are also in Iraq as part of NATO’s mission, which focuses on security sector reforms.
ISIS swept through large parts of Iraq in 2014, seizing land and committing countless atrocities, including genocide. The group was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, but it continues to pose serious security risks through hit-and-run attacks, bombings, and abductions, particularly in the disputed areas between Baghdad and Erbil.
In addition to training and logistical support, weapons provided by Germany, especially the guided anti-tank MILAN missiles, have been essential to Peshmerga forces’ fight against the terror group.
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