Italy ends its military presence in Iraq after 12 years, only two Carabinieri remain in the EUAM

Of all the Italian Armed Forces that have been deployed in Iraq in the last 12 years, at the end of September only two Carabinieri will remain in the country engaged as part of the European Union mission EUAM Iraq, authorized by the Iraqi Government. The Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, announced this in a note published on Tuesday 29 September.

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Overall, considering both the departments included in the multinational framework and the bilateral support and training units, the average Italian force has reached one thousand effective soldiers. Italy was among the Western countries that provided the greatest contribution to the mission.

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Crosetto: «Inherent Resolve and NATO Mission Iraq will operate from other countries».

«With the return of the last soldiers involved in the recovery and transfer of logistical materials - Crosetto clarified -, the presence of our Armed Forces in Iraq ends today (Tuesday 29 September, ed.). Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) of the international Coalition (nationally known as "Prima Parthica", ed.) and NATO Mission Iraq will continue to operate from other countries. NATO Mission Iraq, in particular, will remain operational from the temporary headquarters of Lago Patria, in the province of Naples, at the NATO Joint Force Command Naples".

«New phase agreed with Iraqi authorities and partner countries»

«As agreed with the Baghdad authorities, the Italian armed forces, together with those of the other Coalition and NATO countries present in Iraq, left Iraqi territory by the deadline of 30 September. From tomorrow (Wednesday 30 September, ed.), therefore, our military presence in Iraq will cease. Not because of an Italian decision, but because we are entering a different phase, agreed with the Iraqi authorities and partner countries, which provides for the full assumption of responsibility by the Iraqi security forces."

«12-year commitment»

In taking stock Crosetto explains that «this concludes a twelve-year commitment, during which thousands of our soldiers operated in Iraq, contributing to the fight against Daesh, to the security of the country and to the training of the Iraqi Armed Forces and the security forces of Iraqi Kurdistan. However, the return of our armed forces - underlines the minister - does not mean the end of the relationship with an important and friendly country, nor does it preclude future forms of collaboration and cooperation. On the contrary, we want to strengthen this bond. The shape of our relationship is changing: less military presence on the ground and increasingly more collaboration, training, exchange of skills and development of the capabilities of the Iraqi Armed Forces. It is a new phase - continues the defense manager - in which Iraq directly assumes an ever greater responsibility for the security of its territory and in which Italy intends to continue to play its part".