Spain has taken the decision to evacuate more than 50 special operations soldiers from Iraq who were involved in the international coalition against the Islamic State led by the United States. The evacuation follows repeated attacks on the mission by Iran-aligned Shiite militias, which escalated recently with the death of a French soldier. In light of these events, the Spanish Ministry of Defense deemed it necessary to move the troops due to the "current deterioration" of security conditions in Iraq and the "impossibility of continuing to carry out assigned tasks."

According to the Ministry, all evacuated personnel are now safe and awaiting further developments in the situation. The Ministry has described the evacuation as "temporary" and emphasized that the safety of personnel is of utmost priority. The decision reflects broader concerns about the safety of foreign forces in Iraq, as local and regional tensions continue to impact stability and security in various parts of the country.

This evacuation could have implications for Spain's involvement in international military coalitions and its stance towards the ongoing threats posed by extremist groups in the region. It highlights the persistent challenges faced by countries maintaining military presence in conflict zones, particularly as anti-terrorism efforts are complicated by factional infighting and the resurgence of hostile militias, which may hinder progress made in the fight against ISIS.