AA Photo
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi announced on January 8 that Ankara and Baghdad had reached an agreement over an Iraqi demand that Turkish forces withdraw from the Bashiqa camp near the ISIS-held city Mosul in northern Iraq.
Iraqi state media did not provide further details about the agreement, but reports said Turkey had pledged to “respect the sovereignty of Iraq” and that both countries agreed not to interfere in each other’s domestic affairs.
In 2016, Turkey deployed about 500 troops to the Bashiqa camp near Mosul without an authorization from the Iraqi government, arguing that the move is aimed to prevent potential attacks by ISIS and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant groups.
Baghdad has repeatedly urged Turkey to withdraw its forces since then.
