Baghdad, March 20 (QNA) - Iraqi security sources announced today the commencement of the evacuation of the NATO mission from its base and its withdrawal from Iraq. The sources indicated that the mission is non-combat and carries out advisory tasks, and will return as soon as the war ends.

The sources told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "the NATO mission is being evacuated from its base and withdrawn from Iraq. This is a temporary operation due to the regional situation and the ongoing war, and out of concern for their safety."

They added that "the NATO personnel present in Iraq are part of a non-combat mission whose role is training and advisory, and they will return as soon as the war ends and the security situation in Iraq stabilizes." (QNA)