On Friday, following talks with Iraqi officials, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s office announced in a statement Ankara’s decision to “reorganize” its military personnel at the Bashiqa camp.
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“Within the scope of the new arrangement, a convoy of 10-12 vehicles carrying some of our troops in Bashiqa have moved towards northern Iraq”, a senior Turkish official said.
Iraq’s Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi said Sunday that treating Turkey like an enemy, due to its military presence in northern Iraq, will not benefit his country.
“They withdrew Turkish soldiers as well as some tanks”.
Over the past few days, thousands of Iraqi protesters have staged demonstrations across the country to denounce the Turkish deployment of military forces.
Iraq also reportedly said it will impose economic sanctions on Ankara in response to Turkey’s not withdrawing the tank battalion from Nineveh.
Turkish military sources say they are moving north.
Ankara last week sent two of the most powerful men in Turkish foreign policy – foreign ministry under-secretary Feridun Sinirlioglu and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan – to Baghdad in a bid to settle the tensions.
Iraq said in early December hundreds of Turkish troops had arrived in its territory without its knowledge, calling it a hostile act.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and President of Iraq’a northern Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani.
He subsequently said that an agreement had been reached on a “reorganisation” of the Turkish troops, but it was never made clear what form this would take.
“It will not take place”.
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Monday’s phone call was Biden’s second call to Davutoglu since last week.
