Hungary ready to take any action necessary regarding Iraqi mission

The Hungarian Armed Forces are monitoring the situation in the wake of the Iranian-US tension and are ready to take any necessary action regarding the Iraqi mission, the defence minister said on Tuesday.

The military is ready for evacuation if necessary, Tibor Benkő told public news channel M1.

The minister stressed the need to pay increased attention to the security of soldiers.

A few Hungarians in Iraq are involved in the NATO training and advisory mission and a larger number are represented in the mission of the grand coalition against the terrorist organisation that calls itself Islamic State, Benkő said.

So far only the training mission has been suspended, he said.

• NATO suspends training mission in Iraq
• Hungary condemns attack on US embassy in Baghdad

Benkő told public radio Kossuth that despite the recent developments, the highest security alert has not been introduced for Hungarian soldiers stationed in Iraq. He said that Hungary had signed a cooperation agreement with Iraq, and unless its soldiers are asked to be withdrawn, they will continue their mission in that country.

Source: MTI