Amid US-Iran Tensions, Germany Suspends Training Ops in Iraq

Germany has ordered some 160 soldiers to suspend training operations in Iraq amid intelligence reports of a potential Iranian plot to attack American interests in the Middle East. In this respect, a spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry confirmed there were “indications” Tehran was planning to target US assets, as tensions between the countries continued to rise. Berlin’s decision comes after the US State Department ordered the evacuation of all “non-emergency” government employees from Iraq, while the US Army’s Central Command placed American troops in the region on “high alert” due to the prospect of an “imminent” attack. This is occurring as cracks over the present danger posed by Iran are beginning to appear in the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State. On Tuesday, British Maj.-Gen. Christopher Ghika, a deputy commander in the 70-plus-nation Operation Inherent Resolve alliance, claimed “there has been no increased [risk] from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria.” This prompted a rare rebuke from the US military, which contended that Ghika’s comments “run counter to the identified credible threats.” The White House remains at odds with the European Union, which has taken steps to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal – from which President Donald Trump withdrew last year – by devising financial mechanisms to offset the effects of US sanctions on the Iranian economy.