US Plans to Withdraw 2,000 Troops from Spain Following Rejection to Help Attack Iran

JAKARTA - The United States is reportedly considering withdrawing about 2,000 of its military personnel from Spain after Madrid refused to allow Washington to use a joint military base in operations against Iran.

According to the daily Handelsblatt on Friday, July 31, citing sources in Washington, the plan is part of the previously announced US efforts to reorganize its military presence in Europe, including the withdrawal of about 5,000 personnel from Germany.

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Handelsblatt said the move was being discussed at the White House as a response to the Spanish government's decision not to allow the US military to use the Rota and Moron joint bases in operations against Iran.

The United States government has not yet given an official response to the report.

Last spring, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed to RIA Novosti that the US had decided to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany within six to 12 months.

In May, German newspaper Bild reported that the US was also preparing to withdraw a brigade of Stryker armored vehicles from Wilseck, a town in the Upper Palatinate region, northeast Bavaria.

However, the base will not be closed because about 5,000 to 8,000 military personnel will remain stationed at the location.

Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Tehran have continued to escalate since the two countries signed a memorandum on June 18 to end the conflict that began on February 28.

However, since July 8, US forces have launched a series of attacks against Iran.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack was in response to Iranian actions against commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran then retaliated by launching an attack on a number of US military bases in the Middle East region. President Donald Trump then declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was no longer in effect.