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NATO says it is 'adjusting' mission in Iraq after report of withdrawal of personnel

AL-Monitor
Mar 20, 2026
A woman carrying a child walks past an armoured vehicle as Turkish army and security personnel search a field after a piece of ammunition fell following the interception of a missile launched from Iran by a NATO air defence system, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar
A woman carrying a child walks past an armoured vehicle as Turkish army and security personnel search a field after a piece of ammunition fell following the interception of a missile launched from Iran by a NATO air defence system, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar — Sertac Kayar

BRUSSELS, March 20 (Reuters) - NATO said it was "adjusting" the posture of its mission in Iraq, in response to a media report that the alliance had started to withdraw personnel from the country due to the military conflicts in the Middle East.

"We can confirm that we are adjusting our posture in the context of NATO Mission Iraq. We are working in close coordination with Allies and partners," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said in an email to Reuters.

"The safety and security of our personnel is paramount, which is why we will refrain from providing additional details about this matter. NATO and Iraq’s political dialogue and practical cooperation, including through NATO Mission Iraq, will continue," she added.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray;Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)