Iraq to assume control of Turkish base in Sinjar under gradual handover
The agreement pairs a transfer to the Iraqi army with Baghdad’s pledge to address armed groups Ankara says threaten security.
Turkiye and Iraq have agreed to gradually transfer control of a military base in Sinjar to the Iraqi army, according to Al Jazeera Global News.
Baghdad has pledged to tackle armed groups that Ankara says pose a security threat. The agreement does not specify which groups are covered or how the pledge will be carried out.
The deal comes after decades of Turkish military activity in northern Iraq. Ankara has cited security threats from Kurdish fighters as the reason for establishing bases in the region.
Cross-border attacks have been common, while relations between the neighbours have soured. The report gives no timeline or detailed terms for the Sinjar transfer.
The agreement concerns one base; the report does not say it will end Turkiye’s wider military presence in northern Iraq.
