Turkey to gradually hand over Iraq military base to Baghdad government

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi reached the accord during talks on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. The arrangement marks a significant diplomatic development between the neighboring countries, which have long contended with cross-border security concerns.

Under the agreement, Turkish forces will progressively hand over the Bashiqa-Zelikan camp to Iraqi federal authorities following a mutually agreed timeline and mechanism, according to a joint statement issued by both leaders' offices. The withdrawal reflects Turkey's confidence in Iraq's enhanced security capabilities, which Ankara says have improved through recent Iraqi security operations.

The Baghdad government, in turn, has committed to fully establishing state authority in the Sinjar region of northwestern Iraq and eliminating the presence of armed groups designated as banned by international standards. Sinjar has historically been a point of contention between the two nations, with Turkish forces citing the presence of militant organizations as justification for military operations in the area.

The agreement underscores efforts by both nations to deepen bilateral cooperation and resolve longstanding tensions through dialogue. Iraq has sought Turkish military withdrawal for several years, viewing the presence of foreign forces as an infringement on national sovereignty, while Turkey has maintained that its military operations are necessary to counter what it perceives as terrorist threats emanating from Iraqi territory.