Italian troops in Iraq: only two Carabinieri remain. Here’s why
Defence Minister Crosetto: “As agreed with the authorities in Baghdad, the Italian armed forces, together with those of the other Coalition and NATO countries present in Iraq, have left Iraqi territory by the 30 September deadline.”
Key points
Of all the Italian armed forces that have been deployed in Iraq over the past 12 years, by the end of September only two Carabinieri will remain in the country, serving as part of the European Union’s EUAM Iraq mission, authorised by the Iraqi Government. This was announced in a statement published on Tuesday 29 September by the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto.
Overall, taking into account both the units deployed within the multinational framework and the bilateral support and training units, the average Italian force strength reached 1,000 military personnel. Italia was among the Western countries that made the greatest contribution to the mission.
Crosetto: ‘Inherent Resolve and the NATO Mission in Iraq will operate from other countries’.
“With the return of the last troops involved in the recovery and transfer of logistical equipment,” Crosetto explained, “the presence of our Armed Forces in Iraq comes to an end today (Tuesday 29 September, ed.). The Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) of the International Coalition (known nationally as ‘Prima Parthica’, ed.) and the NATO Mission Iraq will, in fact, continue to operate from other countries. NATO Mission Iraq, in particular, will remain operational from its temporary headquarters in Lago Patria, in the province of Naples, at NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples.
‘New phase agreed with the Iraqi authorities and partner countries’
‘As agreed with the authorities in Baghdad, the Italian armed forces, together with those of the other Coalition and NATO countries present in Iraq, have withdrawn from Iraqi territory by the deadline of 30 September. From tomorrow (Wednesday 30 September, ed.), therefore, our military presence in Iraq will cease. This is not due to an Italian decision, but because we are entering a new phase, agreed with the Iraqi authorities and our partner countries, which involves the Iraqi security forces assuming full responsibility.”
‘A 12-year commitment’
Taking stock of the situation, Crosetto explains that ‘this marks the end of a twelve-year commitment, during which thousands of our military personnel have served in Iraq, contributing to the fight against Daesh, to the country’s security and to the training of the Iraqi Armed Forces and the security forces of Iraqi Kurdistan. The withdrawal of our armed forces,’ the minister emphasises, ‘does not, however, signify the end of our relationship with an important and friendly country, nor does it preclude future forms of collaboration and cooperation. On the contrary, we wish to strengthen this bond. The nature of our relationship is changing: there will be a reduced military presence on the ground and an increasing focus on collaboration, training, the exchange of expertise and the development of the capabilities of the Iraqi Armed Forces. ‘This is a new phase,’ the Defence Minister continued, ‘in which Iraq is directly assuming ever-greater responsibility for the security of its own territory and in which Italia intends to continue playing its part.’
