“Taking into account the sensitivities on the Iraqi side…”
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Baghdad had complained about the December 4 deployment of troops to the site near Mosul, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and insisting the Turkish forces be withdrawn. Increased Russian activity on the area further complicated the US-led coalition’s efforts to clear ISIL militants from the Turkish border.
A convoy of almost 10 vehicles left the Bashiqa Camp on Monday morning and traveled to another region in northern Iraq, Turkey’s Anatolia news agency said.
Ankara has acknowledged “miscommunication” with Baghdad over the recent deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq.
The statement did not say how many troops would be moved or where they would go to.
Turkey said that it deployed troops and tanks to a military camp in northern Iraq earlier this month, to protect its officers giving training to Iraq’s forces.
It came days after Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu’s office said it had made a decision to reorganise its military personnel at Bashiqa following talks with Iraqi officials. Iraqi President Fuad Masum said Turkey violated global laws when its military entered the country. He added that the overarching principle for the United States is that Iraq is a sovereign country, and foreign forces should only be there if requested by the government of Iraq.
“The two leaders have agreed that Turkey, the USA and Iraq should work together as part of diplomatic consultations to reduce tension and within the coordination of the joint military effort against Daesh”, it said.
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“We are there in the framework of fighting Daesh”. Mr Obama had asked Mr Erdogan to take steps “to deescalate tensions with Iraq”.
