The German military has started a temporary withdrawal of some of its troops from Erbil in northern Iraq, which is a response to escalating tensions in the Middle East as stated by a representative of the German Defense Ministry. Dozens of German soldiers have been moved away from the base in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, and only essential personnel needed to maintain operational capabilities at the base will remain on-site. The specifics of these tensions were not detailed by the Defense Ministry representative, but it aligns with a broader context of military buildup in the region attributed to directives from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has recently ordered a significant deployment of U.S. naval forces and other assets.