Turkey to gradually withdraw forces from Iraqi base under new accord

The agreement, announced during discussions at the United Nations General Assembly, represents a significant step in normalizing military relations between Turkey and Iraq. The gradual transfer of the Bashiqa base, located in northern Iraq near Mosul, has been a longstanding point of contention between the two nations.

Turkey has maintained a military presence at the base as part of counter-terrorism operations against Kurdish militant groups, which Ankara considers security threats. The phased withdrawal approach allows both nations to coordinate the transition while ensuring continued security in the strategically important region.

Beyond the base handover, Erdogan and al-Sudani pledged to expand bilateral security cooperation, including enhanced intelligence sharing and joint operations against terrorist organizations. The commitment reflects both countries' mutual interest in combating extremist threats in the border areas.

The agreement comes as Iraq seeks greater sovereignty over its territory, while Turkey maintains concerns about Kurdish separatist movements. Officials indicated that the withdrawal timeline would be determined through ongoing bilateral consultations, with security considerations remaining paramount throughout the transition process.