German troops will leave Incirlik, relocate to Jordan in July

MUNICH, Germany (Kurdistan24) – According to a German official, the country’s troops will start leaving a Turkish air base where they are stationed in July.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen revealed the Bundeswehr soldiers would pull out of the Incirlik air base in Turkey after strained relations between the NATO allies.

The German troops will be relocated to a new base in Jordan, von der Leyen told German media on Sunday.

“Until the end of June, our flight plans as part of the anti-Islamic State (IS) coalition are set,” Bild am Sonntag newspaper quoted the Defense Minister.

“After that, we’ll be transferring our tanker aircraft as quickly as possible to Jordan,” she added.

Germany has over 250 military personnel present at the Incirlik air base.

The troops fly Tornado surveillance operations over Syria and refueling flights for partner nations in the coalition against IS.

Regarding Germany’s role in the Middle East, von der Leyen stated the country’s transfer of troops would temporarily put the Bundeswehr’s mission in the region on hold.

She reaffirmed the soldiers would be ready for deployment from the Jordan base by mid-July.

“Starting from October, the reconnaissance Tornados will start flying again, according to our timetable,” she informed, pointing out the movement of heavy artillery would take longer.

The German Defense Minister highlighted the importance of a quick transition, adding the security of troops was of paramount importance.

The move stems from strained diplomatic relations between Turkey and Germany involving a blockade from Ankara that prevented a German Parliamentary delegation from visiting troops at the base.