US said to be withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany over Iran war spat | Military News
U.S. Military to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Tensions Over Iran
By Al Jazeera Staff
Published May 1, 2026
The Pentagon has announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, a decision reportedly influenced by escalating tensions between the United States and its European allies over the ongoing military operations against Iran.
According to Reuters, the announcement came following remarks from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who suggested that the United States is facing humiliation in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. The withdrawal is projected to take place over the next six to twelve months, as confirmed by multiple defense officials, including reports from CBS News.
An anonymous official commented on the situation, stating, “The president is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks.”
President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with European allies, criticizing them for not contributing sufficiently to the U.S.-led war against Iran. On Wednesday, he indicated the possibility of pulling troops from European nations that do not support the military efforts adequately.
Politico reported that Trump’s threats to withdraw troops surprised some military officials and congressional aides. In another social media post, he further criticized Chancellor Merz, suggesting that he should focus on ending the war in Ukraine rather than interfering with efforts to neutralize the Iranian nuclear threat.
European nations have been cautious in their support for the U.S. campaign, with diplomatic leaders, including Merz, previously reluctant to publicly criticize American strikes, which many legal experts have deemed illegal under international law. However, as the conflict disrupts global energy supplies and affects regional economies, criticism has grown.
Earlier this week, Merz drew parallels between the current conflict and previous U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, stating, “It is, at the moment, a pretty tangled situation. This conflict, this war against Iran, has a direct impact on our economic output.”
