Turkey Scolded for ‘Expansionist’ Plan in Iraq
BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – Turkey’s plan to build a military base in the northern part of Iraq is "provocative” and a "violation of Iraqi sovereignty,” an Iraqi parliamentary faction says.
Turkey announced on Friday it plans to construct a military base in Iraq amid long-time clashes with Kurdish militants in the north.
At a closed-door meeting of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on Friday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Ankara would press ahead with its military operations near its border in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, Turkish media reported.
Ammar Ta’meh, head of the al-Nahj al-Watani faction, said on Saturday Turkey’s "expansionist plans” would threaten the relationship between the two countries and "bring harm and loss to everyone,” according to the Arabic-language National Iraqi News Agency (NINA).
"Such provocative steps hinder opportunities for cooperation and coordination required for countering common challenges facing the region as a result of the spread of terrorism and extremist ideology and produce new hotbeds of tension and security confusion that give an unacceptable impetus to Daesh remnants who have long benefited from conflicts and estrangement in positions between the countries of the region.”
Ta’meh said a unified Iraqi national position would help the government in maintaining the sovereignty of the country and ending the influence of foreigners as well as maintaining the security and stability of Iraq.
In recent days, there has been a sharp rise in Turkish air raids and ground operations against PKK militants in northern Iraq.
The Turkish military frequently dispatches warplanes, drones, and ground forces across the Iraqi border to carry out attacks against PKK positions at its doorstep.
The operations, which are not coordinated with the central Iraqi government, have been condemned by Baghdad as a violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty.
Iraq has repeatedly urged Turkey to end its military activities on Iraqi soil. It has also summoned Ankara’s envoy over the raids several times.
In Syria, Turkey — backed by allied militants — have, since 2016, conducted three military operations against Kurdish militants that it says are linked to the PKK. It currently controls a stretch of Syrian territory along the Turkish border.
Like the Iraqi government, Syria has also slammed Turkey’s military presence on its soil as a violation of its sovereignty and wants Ankara to end its occupation of the Arab country.
Turkey announced on Friday it plans to construct a military base in Iraq amid long-time clashes with Kurdish militants in the north.
At a closed-door meeting of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on Friday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Ankara would press ahead with its military operations near its border in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, Turkish media reported.
Ammar Ta’meh, head of the al-Nahj al-Watani faction, said on Saturday Turkey’s "expansionist plans” would threaten the relationship between the two countries and "bring harm and loss to everyone,” according to the Arabic-language National Iraqi News Agency (NINA).
"Such provocative steps hinder opportunities for cooperation and coordination required for countering common challenges facing the region as a result of the spread of terrorism and extremist ideology and produce new hotbeds of tension and security confusion that give an unacceptable impetus to Daesh remnants who have long benefited from conflicts and estrangement in positions between the countries of the region.”
Ta’meh said a unified Iraqi national position would help the government in maintaining the sovereignty of the country and ending the influence of foreigners as well as maintaining the security and stability of Iraq.
In recent days, there has been a sharp rise in Turkish air raids and ground operations against PKK militants in northern Iraq.
The Turkish military frequently dispatches warplanes, drones, and ground forces across the Iraqi border to carry out attacks against PKK positions at its doorstep.
The operations, which are not coordinated with the central Iraqi government, have been condemned by Baghdad as a violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty.
Iraq has repeatedly urged Turkey to end its military activities on Iraqi soil. It has also summoned Ankara’s envoy over the raids several times.
In Syria, Turkey — backed by allied militants — have, since 2016, conducted three military operations against Kurdish militants that it says are linked to the PKK. It currently controls a stretch of Syrian territory along the Turkish border.
Like the Iraqi government, Syria has also slammed Turkey’s military presence on its soil as a violation of its sovereignty and wants Ankara to end its occupation of the Arab country.