Spain Moves Troops in Iraq Amid Middle East Tensions

Spain has temporarily repositioned its troops stationed in Iraq as security conditions deteriorate across the Middle East, the Spanish Defense Ministry announced Sunday.

In a statement, the ministry said Spain had relocated members of its special operations group in coordination with Iraqi authorities due to the worsening security situation and the difficulty of continuing assigned missions.

The ministry confirmed that all Spanish personnel are currently in safe locations but did not disclose their new positions.

Spain is involved in two missions in Iraq. The first is the international coalition against ISIS, while the second is the NATO mission in Iraq, which aims to strengthen the country’s defense institutions through training and advisory support.

Madrid has previously expressed opposition to recent US and Israeli military operations, saying the strikes contradict international law.

The United States and Israel have carried out a series of airstrikes on targets in Iran, including the capital Tehran, since launching the campaign on February 28. The attacks caused significant damage, civilian casualties, and the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several commanders from the Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian military.

Iran responded with missile strikes on Israeli territory and on US military facilities across the Middle East, including bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, while warning of an unprecedented response.