Dutch soldiers responsible for securing the Erbil International Airport will leave the Kurdistan region next week, marking the end of their mission, Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands said.
Netherlands has 125 soldiers assigned to protect the Erbil International Airport since January 2021, all of them will leave the Kurdistan region.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense’s advisory office will remain operational in Erbil to provide military advice to Kurdish and Iraqi forces.
The Dutch troops has worked alongside Kurdish forces and American soldiers to ensure the safety and stability of the region.
Netherlands’s decision signals a significant shift in the country’s involvement in the region, as the mission has been a vital part of maintaining security in the area for more than a year.