Germany to expand training mission in Iraq

According to German media reports, the government is planning to ask the Bundestag lower house of parliament for a mandate to send several dozen more Bundeswehr soldiers to train peshmerga fighters in Irbil in northern Iraq. A handful of Bundeswehr troops are already in the country training the Kurds in the use of weapons that Germany has already delivered for use in the fight against "Islamic State" (IS) fighters.

A report published in the mass-circulation "Bild" newspaper cited a draft of the mandate that said the government planned to send around 100 additional Bundeswehr soldiers to Iraq. A "Spiegel Online" report said some of the extra troops could be on their way to the country early in the new year.

Strictly non-combat role

While the extra soldiers would be armed, the scope of their mandate is to be strictly limited to training the peshmerga fighters in activities such as demining. Soldiers from other allied nations would be responsible for protecting the base in Irbil where the Germans are to be stationed.

The reports said Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Justice Minister Heiko Maas would discuss the proposed mission on the fringes of a cabinet meeting in Berlin on Thursday.

The government is then expected to put the proposal to the Bundestag next Wednesday.

The plan to expand the training activities comes after a German advance team held meeting with officials in Baghdad and Arbil.

pfd/rc (AFP, dpa, Reuters)