President Milanović orders withdrawal of Croatian soldiers from Iraq and Lebanon

President Zoran Milanović has expressed concern over unilateral military interventions in the Middle East, saying they violate international law and undermine global security.

He emphasized that Croatia must prioritize the safety and interests of its citizens.

Milanović announced the decision to withdraw Croatian soldiers from Iraq and Lebanon.

From the statement issued by the President:

*"Concerned for the safety of Croatian soldiers deployed on missions in the Middle East, I have decided to withdraw seven Croatian soldiers from Iraq and one soldier from Lebanon. I have instructed the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces to immediately initiate their withdrawal.

I call on the Government of the Republic of Croatia to take all necessary measures within its authority to protect and ensure the safe return of Croatian citizens located in the area of military operations."*

Responding to the President’s statement, Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said that Croatia does have “certain obligations” as a member of international organizations.

“I don’t know what the problem is with the withdrawal in Iraq. I spoke with the Iraqi Foreign Minister yesterday and we discussed the security situation in Iraq. Iraq is a safe country. There is also one soldier under the United Nations mandate in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission, who should have been withdrawn earlier. But the President decided to exercise his powers in this way. Why he is doing this and how he is doing it, ask him,” Grlić Radman said.

Asked whether the President consulted the Government before ordering the withdrawal, the Foreign Minister replied bluntly: “He never consults the Government.”