Due to the deteriorating security situation related to the Middle Eastern conflict, Hungarian military personnel and diplomatic staff serving in Erbil have left Iraq, the Chief of General Staff of the Hungarian Defense Forces announced on Saturday. They arrived home safely later the same day.
Hungarian soldiers and the staff of the Hungarian Consulate General were withdrawn from Iraq together with the Italian contingent operating the camp in Erbil.
After leaving Iraq, the Hungarian soldiers were flown from Türkiye to Kecskemét by a Hungarian Defense Forces Airbus A319 transport aircraft,
Honvedelem.hu reports. The rapid and coordinated withdrawal was made possible through the cooperation of several units of the Hungarian Defense Forces and their Italian coalition partner.
Gábor Böröndi, Chief of the General Staff, said during the withdrawal that since the start of the military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran,
Iraqi bases hosting international forces have been targeted several times by Iranian missile and drone attacks in retaliation.
Due to the worsening security situation, the nations decided on a partial or complete withdrawal of their personnel, he added.
He emphasized that the decision to temporarily withdraw Hungarian troops from the Erbil airbase was made based on continuous and thorough analysis of the security situation, in agreement and cooperation with the Italian coalition partner.
Staff members of Hungary’s Consulate General in Erbil also left Iraq together with the soldiers, under their protection.
Via MTI, Honvedelem.hu, Featured image: Honvedelem.hu
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