After the first military strikes by Israel and the United States, Iran launched counterattacks that mainly targeted US military bases. But the German military, the Bundeswehr, is also stationed at some of the bases that were hit.
One attack targeted a military base near Erbil in northern Iraq; another struck a Bundeswehr base in Jordan, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Bundeswehr’s Operational Command. No one was injured, as soldiers were in protected positions or accommodations, and air defense systems intercepted the missiles and drones.
“The German soldiers and contingents were not the immediate target,” the German Defense Ministry said. The bases are not operated by the Bundeswehr, which is only a guest there alongside troops from other nations, including the US.
The Defense Ministry emphasized that precautions had been taken in good time to protect German soldiers in the Middle East. “Germany is not a party to the war, and the German military will not participate in this war,” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius declared in the Bundestag.
Bundeswehr is part of two Middle East missions
In view of the ongoing hostilities, the question arises whether the roughly 500 German soldiers should be withdrawn.
The Bundeswehr is part of two military missions in the Middle East. More than 200 German soldiers and a German navy frigate are helping to secure Lebanon’s maritime borders as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). That mission aims to prevent weapons smuggling into Lebanon by sea, and the Bundeswehr also trains Lebanese Navy personnel. The UNIFIL mandate, repeatedly extended by the Bundestag for nearly 20 years, expires on June 30, and many now doubt whether it can continue.
In Iraq and Jordan, the Bundeswehr participates in an international mission against the Islamic State. The mission — now called “Counter Daesh/Capacity Building Iraq/NATO Mission Iraq” after several expansions since 2015 — aims to stabilize Iraq and prevent an IS resurgence by training local armed forces. The Bundeswehr’s efforts focus on the Kurdish metropolis of Erbil in northern Iraq, with some advisors in Baghdad. Germany had already withdrawn some personnel from Erbil in mid-February when tensions between the US and Iran increased.
Most German personnel in that mission are stationed at the Al-Asrak air base in Jordan. The Bundeswehr also contributes tanker aircraft and transport planes, which could be used to withdraw forces quickly if needed.
The upper limit for the German contingent in Jordan and Iraq is 500 soldiers. Currently there are “more than 200,” the Defense Ministry said, without providing exact numbers. In January the Bundestag extended the mandate for another year until January 31, 2027, and the Bundeswehr’s Operational Command said no adjustments are currently planned.
Spreading the military too thin?
The German government has left open how the Middle East missions will continue. These are not the only international commitments: about 2,000 German soldiers are active “in 17 operations and recognized missions” on three continents, according to the Defense Ministry.
The Bundeswehr’s many tasks have put it under considerable strain, heightened by the threat to German contingents in the Middle East. The security of those troops is reassessed hourly by the Bundeswehr’s Operational Command.
For now, the most pressing question appears to be what will happen to the UNIFIL mission off the Lebanese coast once its mandate ends at the end of June.
This article was originally written in German.
