NATO Pulls Training Mission Personnel From Iraq Amid Iran War
NATO has withdrawn several hundred personnel from Iraq, with the last mission staff leaving on March 20, 2026, and moved its security advisory/non‑combat mission — launched in 2018 to advise Iraq’s national security chief, defense and interior ministries and police, mostly around Baghdad — to be run from NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy. NATO’s top commander, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, thanked Iraq and allies for helping safely relocate personnel and called the troops “true professionals” after Iranian attacks on European bases prompted the move.
📌 Key Facts
- NATO's last Mission Iraq personnel departed Iraq on Friday, March 20, 2026.
- NATO pulled its security-advisory mission out of Iraq after Iranian attacks on European bases.
- The mission will now be run from NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy.
- The mission is a security-advisory, non-combat effort launched in 2018 to advise Iraq’s national security chief, the defense and interior ministries, and police, operating mostly around Baghdad.
- NATO’s top commander, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, thanked Iraq and allied countries for helping safely relocate personnel and called the troops “true professionals.”
📊 Relevant Data
Iran's ethnic minorities, making up about 39% of the population (including Azerbaijanis at 16% and Kurds at 10%), have faced increased crackdowns and contributed to internal unrest and protests in 2025-2026, exacerbating instability amid external conflicts.
In 2025, the Middle East accounted for the lowest share of U.S. oil imports since the 1970s, with 84.26% of U.S. oil imports coming from the Western Hemisphere.
Mideast Accounts For Lowest Share Of U.S. Oil Imports Since 1970s — Forbes
As of 2024, Black service members comprise 16.9% of active-duty U.S. military personnel, compared to 13.6% of the U.S. population, while White service members are 68.9% versus 59% in the population.
2024 Demographics Report — Military OneSource
The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has led to oil prices surging above $108 per barrel in March 2026, with global crude supply disruptions affecting about a fifth of world production.
War in Middle East has 'heightened the risks to the global economy' — The Guardian
Iranian attacks on bases in Iraq during the 2026 conflict have primarily involved Shia militias backed by Iran targeting U.S. and European forces, with retaliatory strikes hitting pro-Iran groups in Iraq.
Why Iraq was attacked from all sides amid US-Israel war on Iran — Al Jazeera
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that the last NATO Mission Iraq personnel left on Friday, March 20, 2026.
- Specifies that the mission will now be run from NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy.
- Clarifies that the mission was a security advisory/non‑combat effort launched in 2018 to advise Iraq’s national security chief, defense and interior ministries, and police, operating mostly around Baghdad.
- Attributes a statement to NATO’s top commander Gen. Alexus Grynkewich thanking Iraq and allies for helping safely relocate personnel and calling the troops 'true professionals.'