Iraq-based Polish soldiers suspend training within NATO mission: Polish major

Polish soldiers operating under NATO have suspended their training activities in Iraq in response to the escalation of tension in the wake of the killing of Iran’s key military commander, Poland’s IAR news agency has said, citing a Polish major.

Thousands of Iraqi Shiite armed groups members have joined the funeral procession in Baghdad for Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, and the eight others killed in a United States drone strike at the Baghdad international airport on January 3.

EPA/FURQAN AL-AARAJI

The step was in keeping with the decision taken by the NATO mission command, Major Adriana Wołyńska from the Operational Command said.

The Polish contingent consists of 350 people. It is not known exactly how many Poles are now in Iraq and whether they have stayed on the ground or are being considered for transfer to neighbouring countries.

The decision to suspend training was taken after violent protests broke out outside the US embassy in Baghdad on December 31, IAR reported.

The death of General Ghasem Suleimanani triggered a wave of anti-American speeches in Iraq and Iran.

His death has raised concerns about the possibility of a large-scale war. Tehran has announced retaliation against the United States.

The NATO training mission in Iraq was established in summer 2018. The exercises conducted within its framework were to help rebuild the Iraqi army, which has been severely weakened by the recent years of fighting against the so-called Islamic State.

(aba)

Source: IAR