BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. Türkiye has withdrawn its military contingent from Iraq under a NATO-coordinated extraction plan amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated, TurkicWorld reports.
"The Armed Forces continue to contribute to peace and stability across a wide geography through international missions and bilateral relations. In light of recent developments in the region, a decision has been made to withdraw personnel from NATO’s mission in Iraq.
Following this decision, the personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces stationed in Baghdad have been successfully evacuated. Our country also assisted in the withdrawal of allied personnel under the NATO-coordinated extraction plan," said Turkish Defense Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk.
Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day.
On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third Supreme Leader by majority vote.
From March 1 through March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East.
According to information, the U.S. side suffered losses of 13 dead and more than 140 wounded.
The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the region’s energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region.
