ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday welcomed German parliament’s decision to extend the country’s mission in the anti-Islamic State (IS) Coalition and NATO mission in Iraq.
Bundestag has extended the armed forces’ mandate in the US-led Global Coalition against the Islamic State (IS), and the NATO mission in Iraq to remain engaged in in the battle against the terrorist group in Iraq until January 2022, according to the mandate which was approved by 431 lawmakers.
“I join Heiko Mass in welcoming the Bundestag’s decision to extend the German armed forces' mandate in the global anti-ISIS coalition and NATO mission in Iraq until January 2022,” PM Barzani wrote on Twitter.
“Germany has been central to the war on ISIS and support for the Peshmerga, including training,” he added.
German Foreign Minister Mass previously welcomed the decision and said the terrorist group of the Islamic State remains a threat by working underground to carry out attacks in Iraq, Syria, and beyond.
“During the pandemic, it [IS] was able to take advantage of the partially reduced persecution pressure. In order to guarantee security in the region and also here in Europe, we need to regain strength and prevent IS at all costs. It is therefore important that the Bundestag decided today to extend the Bundeswehr mandate,” Mass added.