26/03/2020

France to pull out forces from International Coalition bases in Iraq

Paris – In a statement to the press today, the French Ministry of Defense said France will withdraw its troops from Iraq over the threat of the coronavirus spread. The French Ministry of Defense said the risks of coronavirus contraction are significant and it doesn’t want to expose it forces to unacceptable risks.

France has been part of the U.S.-led international coalition fighting terrorism in Iraq and Syria from the start.

According to several media and the spokesperson of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense the number of French soldiers being pulled out is about 100. In the same news, media speculate other countries will follow France’s steps. The U.S. last week merged military bases in Iraq over the threat of corona, the U.S. military leadership said.