| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Iraq tells Turkey to withdraw troops |
| 2015-12-07 |
| [AlArabiya] Iraqi President Fouad Massoum on Saturday called the deployment of several hundred Turkish troops inside Iraq near the northern city of Mosul “a violation of international norms and law.” Iraq’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad on Saturday to protest at the deployment of Turkish forces near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and demand their immediate withdrawal. The ministry said in a statement that the Turkish forces had entered Iraqi territory without the knowledge of the central government in Baghdad, and that Iraq considered such presence “a hostile act.” But Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the troop rotation was routine and the camp had originally been set up in coordination with Iraqi authorities. A Turkish security source said on Friday the forces would provide training for Iraqi troops near Mosul, which is controlled by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Iraq’s prime minister and foreign ministry have called for Turkey to withdraw its forces. In an online statement, Massoum also called on Turkey to withdraw the troops and asked Iraq’s Foreign Ministry to take the necessary measures “to preserve the country's sovereignty and independence.” More at the link Turkey reacts by saying, "We won't send in any more!" Iraq threatens to go to the US Security Council, making Turkey shake in their curly toed slippers. |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #2 Al Ahram names them: The camp is used by a force called Hashid Watani (national mobilisation), which is made up of mainly Sunni Arab former Iraqi police and volunteers from Mosul. It was formed by former Nineveh governor Atheel al-Nujaifi, who had close relations with Turkey. There was already a small number of Turkish trainers there before this latest deployment. So, genuine grievance about the arrival of Turkish tanks or Baghdad trying to take control over isolated governors acting independently, Shiites insisting that only the official army and Shiite auxiliaries may be seen to overthrow ISIS? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2015-12-07 10:57 |
| #1 Fascinating bit from the second article -- after the obligatory real world cold shower -- given that Turkey keeps talking about its troops have been there for two years to train the Peshmerga: In practical terms, Iraqâs options are primarily diplomatic, as its forces are tied down battling ISIS and Ankara has a far more powerful military. Turkey has troops at a base in the Bashiqa area in Nineveh province to train Iraqi Sunni volunteers hoping to retake the nearby city of Mosul from ISIS, which seized it and swathes of other territory in June 2014. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2015-12-07 10:26 |