Turkey and Iraq Agree on Gradual Handover of Military Base in Northern Iraq

Turkey and Iraq have agreed that Turkish forces will gradually hand over a military base in northern Iraq to the Iraqi government, following talks between the two countries’ leaders in New York.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

In a joint statement, the two countries said they would strengthen security cooperation and work to end the presence of what they described as “outlawed foreign armed elements” in northern Iraq.

The agreement includes establishing full state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of Kurdish militants in the area.

Under an agreed mechanism and timeline, Turkish forces will gradually transfer control of the Bashiqa-Zelikan military base, near Mosul, to the Iraqi government. An Iraqi military commander said the withdrawal from the Bashiqa camp and another smaller base near Mosul was expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Turkey deployed troops near Mosul in 2015, saying they were there to train and support Iraqi forces and local fighters preparing to fight Islamic State militants, who had seized Mosul in 2014.

The deployment led to tensions with Baghdad, which had demanded the withdrawal of Turkish forces. Ankara has maintained that its military presence in northern Iraq is necessary to protect Turkey’s national security.

US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, welcomed the agreement, saying it served both Iraqi sovereignty and Turkish security.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations, trade and the implementation of previously signed agreements, with both sides stressing the need to accelerate strategic projects between Turkey and Iraq.

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