Erdogan to Iraqi Prime Minister: You Better Understand Your Position

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, on Tuesday, October 20, reacted to Haider al-Abadi's protest against the presence of the Turkish army in northern Iraq ahead of the operation to liberate the city of Mosul, speaking in a condescending tone to the Iraqi Prime Minister, saying: "You better understand your position." According to AFP, Mr. Erdogan, in a gathering in Istanbul addressing the Iraqi Prime Minister, said: "He personally insults me. You are not my equal; you are not at my level. Your shouting from Iraq means nothing. You must know we will do whatever we want. Who is he? The Prime Minister of Iraq. First, you must understand where your place is." Despite the protests from the Iraqi government coinciding with the arrival of the Mosul liberation operation, the Turkish government has emphasized that its forces will remain in northern Iraq. According to Turkish media reports, about two thousand of its forces are stationed in northern Iraq, with around 500 of them training armed militants at the Bashiqa camp who are set to participate in the Mosul liberation operation. Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesman for the Iraqi Prime Minister, in response to Erdogan's remarks, said: "Erdogan is pouring oil on the fire with his words," indicating that Turkey is not serious about resolving this dispute. He told AFP that Turkey's reaction has turned a legal and security issue into a personal matter. The Iraqi government has repeatedly asked Turkey to withdraw its forces from its territory, and Haider al-Abadi has warned that the presence of Turkish forces increases the risk of a regional war. Following the recent decision of the Turkish parliament to extend the presence of Turkish soldiers for another year in Syria and Iraq, tensions between the two countries have escalated. The Iraqi parliament has labeled the Turkish army as an "occupying force" in its resolutions. On Tuesday, Erdogan rejected the Iraqi Prime Minister's request for the withdrawal of Turkish forces, stating: "The armed forces of the Republic of Turkey have not degraded to the point of taking orders from you." The tension between Turkey and Iraq over this issue may complicate plans related to the Mosul liberation operation. The Turkish President announced his country's readiness to participate in this operation under an agreement similar to that which occurred regarding the liberation of Jarabulus in northern Syria. The Turkish army has launched an ambitious operation in Syrian territory and, with support from Syrian rebels, was able to reclaim the city of Jarabulus near the Turkish border from the Islamic State group in September.