Germany Extends Military Mission in Iraq until October

The German Federal Parliament "Bundestag" agreed to extend the German army's mission in Iraq until October of this year.

Up to 553 deputies in the German Federal Parliament voted in favor of the resolution, 110 voted against it, and only one MP abstained.

The vote comes on the basis of a proposal submitted by the federal government to continue the deployment of the German armed forces in Iraq, according to the statement published on the website of the German parliament.

The text submitted by the German government to Parliament stated that efforts to implement structural reform of Iraqi institutions should be supported to integrate the Popular Mobilization Forces into the Iraqi security structures with the aim of effective and direct control of the Popular Mobilization Forces by the Iraqi government.

According to the statement, as a result of this decision, the German army will continue its participation in the mission against ISIS for a period of nine months.

The German contribution to building the capabilities of the regular Iraqi armed forces and security forces in addition to providing associated support services is provided as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization  "NATO" commitment in Iraq and as part of the international coalition against ISIS, according to the source.