Iraq Security and Foreign Troops

NATO has withdrawn several hundred personnel from Iraq, with the last mission staff leaving on March 20, 2026, and moved its security advisory/non‑combat mission — launched in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.