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Baghdad/Berlin (dpa) - German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Tuesday that the Iraqi government has asked that Germany continue taking part in the international coalition against the Islamic State militia, and to even increase its presence in the mission. Speaking after a meeting with top government officials in Baghdad, Kramp-Karrenbauer said the coalition was at a point "where it will be decided if the successes against the Islamic State are sustainable, yes or no," she said. "This is why an increase in our activity in this region, also for jobs and prospects, is so important," she added. Kramp-Karrenbauer is in Iraq as the German mandate for the operation is set to expire on October 31. The German government is plagued by in-fighting over whether to extend the mandate, of which Kramp-Karrenbauer is a vocal proponent. However, members of the Social Democrats, the junior partner in Germany''s ruling coalition, are calling for an end to the mission. One of the leaders of the international mission against the Islamic State militia in Iraq said that if Germany were to pull its troops out, it would be "a significant blow" to the mission''s success. "Germany has been a steadfast partner ... of this coalition, and it is a partnership we really value for the capabilities it brings," said Christopher Ghika, vice commander of the anti-terrorist coalition, during Kramp-Karrenbauer''s visit to mission headquarters. Ghika said the militants had built up effective underground networks since the destruction of their "caliphate," and therefore the fight against the organization was ongoing. He added that this was also a ideological battle and that the goal was to de-radicalize Islamic State fighters. Around 50 German soldiers are stationed at the military compound in Taji, where they train Iraqi soldiers in fields such as logistics and defence. Kramp-Karrenbauer said Tuesday that she also discussed the situation of refugees who fled from the Islamic State in the country, and that she agreed it was necessary for the regions where the militia was active to be cleared of mines and other dangerous materials. Since the Islamic State militants were driven out of Iraq in December 2017, the country''s security has improved, particularly in the capital, Baghdad. However, there are still active pockets of the militant group in other parts of the country. Iraq is now involved in the conflict between the United States and Iran, as the US continues to be an important ally of the government in Baghdad, while Iraq also has good relations with neighbouring Iran. # Notebook ## Update ## Note to editors - recasts with AKK quotes and government talks outcome - dpa photos ## Internet links - [Operation Counter Daesh, in German](http://dpaq.de/oZZcw) - [NATO mission in Iraq](http://dpaq.de/vpzOU) * * * * The following information is not intended for publication ## Editorial contacts - Reporting by: Carsten Hoffmann in Baghdad and Jan Kuhlmann in Berlin - Editing by: Amy Walker, +49 30 2852-31472, dpa cn jku xxde wal wjh lee
