The German army has partially withdrawn troops from its base in Erbil, Iraq, as a precautionary measure due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense confirmed on Thursday, February 19th, that a medium two-digit number of non-essential personnel have been transferred, reportedly to Jordan by air, as reported by Der Spiegel. This follows a previous reduction in German military presence in northern Iraq earlier in February, where they assist local armed forces as part of a NATO mission. The Bundeswehr prioritizes the safety of its soldiers, with only essential personnel remaining to maintain command at the Erbil base, which is their primary location in Iraq, alongside advisors in Baghdad. The withdrawal occurs amidst heightened US military deployments in the Gulf, fueling concerns of an escalation with Iran, particularly following recent indirect nuclear talks and Iran's assertion of its right to nuclear enrichment.