Seven Bulgarian servicemen, participants in the non-combat mission of NATO in Iraq, have returned to Bulgaria, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced. They were greeted by the Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov.

Following the escalation of the conflict in the Persian Gulf, NATO temporarily adjusted the deployment of the mission, with the aim of ensuring the security and safety of the contingents and successfully continuing the fulfillment of the tasks of advising and building the armed forces of Iraq and the institutions working in the field of security, the MoD explained. 

The servicemen were transported to the country's territory by a "Spartan" aircraft of our Air Force. Everyone is in excellent health and condition, the ministry also informed.

The NATO mission in Iraq, which is tasked with helping and advising the Iraqi armed forces in their fight against jihadist groups, temporarily withdrew its personnel for security reasons, two representatives of the security services announced to Agence France-Presse earlier today.