German Defense Ministry says its top military officer in Iraq passes away

BAGHDAD – The German Defense Ministy says the head of its training mission in Iraq's self-ruled Kurdish region has passed away.

In a statement, the ministry said Col. Stephan Spottel was found dead Wednesday in his hotel room in the regional capital, Irbil.

It added that current available information suggests that "there is no indication of suicide or third party interference." It did not elaborate.

Like other Western countries, Germany has sent a military mission to train Kurdish forces in their fight against the Islamic State group, which controls about a third of Iraq and Syria.