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German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius visited German troops in the northern Kurdistan Region of Iraq on Thursday.
Pistorius also met with regional president Nechirvan Barzani in the regional capital Erbil to discuss Germany’s military engagement in Iraq.
Around 300 German troops are stationed in Iraq and Jordan as part of NATO Mission Iraq and the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State terrorist group.
The campaign against Islamic State has been the focus of renewed attention in recent days after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, with observers warning that the group could take advantage of a power vacuum.
Pistorius on Thursday also addressed reports that the Russian Navy has withdrawn from its base in the Syrian port of Tartus.
While he could not confirm the withdrawal, Pistorius said Moscow’s abandonment of the al-Assad government was proof that “Russia focuses exclusively, and always, on itself and on its own interests.”
“That’s why we can’t rule out the possibility that this is a permanent withdrawal,” he added.
The Russian base in Tartus was used to support al-Assad’s forces. It has also been vital to Moscow’s role in North Africa and the Sahel region, but US media have reported that Russian ships have withdrawn from the area.
