The Turkish army has recently deployed units towards the Kere and Metin mountains in the Duhok province of northern Iraq. This action follows the handover of the bases and camps of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and seems to be in accordance with new agreements between the leaders of this party and the Turkish government.
New Agreements Between Turkey and the PKK
According to available information, these movements follow the withdrawal of PKK forces and the disarmament of this group. In September, it was announced that the Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) would oversee the process of handing over PKK weapons in Iraq. Meanwhile, Iraqi border forces and Peshmerga will also be stationed in areas vacated by the PKK.
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Agreement for the Withdrawal of Turkish Forces from Bases
Recent developments come as a security source in Iraqi Kurdistan has announced that an agreement has been reached between Iraq and Turkey for the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the Bashiqah and Zilkan bases. According to this agreement, these two bases will be handed over to the Iraqi army. However, the status of other Turkish bases in the Kurdistan region remains unclear.
Turkey's military presence in northern Iraq, which continues despite Baghdad's protests, has a multi-year history. Ankara established the Bashiqah base in 2015, declaring the main goal of this base to be the training of Iraqi forces and participation in the fight against the ISIS group. However, over time, Turkey's military operations and presence in the Kurdistan region, especially in the fight against the PKK, have expanded.
These developments indicate greater complexities in the relations between Turkey and Iraq, and it seems that recent agreements could have profound impacts on the security and military situation in the region. While some hope these agreements will lead to a reduction in tensions, concerns about Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity remain persistent.
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