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Spain has evacuated 99 military personnel from Iraq to Türkiye after NATO suspended its mission in the country over security concerns, with Defence Minister Margarita Robles describing a complex operation carried out under active fire.
Of the evacuated troops, 57 had been serving with the US-led coalition against ISIL, while 42 were part of NATO's separate training mission in Iraq. Robles said missile exchanges near the NATO contingent's base complicated the withdrawal, with multiple shelter alarms sounding before personnel could be moved to safety.
"There were numerous alarms in the shelters," Robles said. "Fortunately, our personnel departed safely."
The evacuation was triggered by NATO's decision to suspend its mission in Iraq, citing security concerns. The alliance's training mission, known as NATO Mission Iraq, was established to help build the capacity of Iraqi security forces and prevent the return of ISIL. Spain has participated in the mission since 2015.
Under normal circumstances, command of the NATO mission was scheduled to transfer to a Spanish unit in May, but that handover has now been shelved due to the deteriorating security situation.
Robles indicated that Spain's withdrawal is part of a broader allied pullout. Approximately 350 NATO soldiers remained in Iraq at the time of the announcement, with around 200 expected to be evacuated in the hours that followed. Several aircraft from the United States, Germany and Spain were dispatched to support the operation.
The minister emphasized that the overriding priority was ensuring the safe extraction of all personnel, describing the conditions on the ground as both difficult and complex.
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