An Iranian Foreign Ministry official described Turkey's military presence in Iraq as an incorrect action that contradicts regional security. According to Tasnim, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, stated on Sunday, December 6, that military assistance from countries and the fight against terrorism require complete coordination with the Iraqi government and obtaining permission from the legitimate government of this country. Amir-Abdollahian further added, 'Such actions, if carried out without coordination with the Iraqi government, are considered contrary to regional security.' According to this Foreign Ministry official, 'Such behavior will not only fail to help suppress terrorism but will also lead to chaos and increased insecurity in the region.' Following the presence of Turkish forces near the city of Mosul, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad on Saturday, December 5, demanding that Ankara withdraw its forces from northern Iraq. According to Reuters, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that Turkish forces are present in northern Iraq without the permission of the central government and that the Iraqi government considers such presence to be 'hostile.' A Turkish security source reported on Friday, December 4, that several hundred Turkish soldiers have been dispatched to an area near Mosul, which is under the control of the Islamic State (ISIS), to train Iraqi forces. This unnamed Turkish official told Reuters that Turkish forces have arrived in the 'Bashiqa' area in Mosul, Ninawa province. However, he did not specify the exact number of Turkish troops but mentioned that these forces are part of a routine mission to train Iraqi forces. Mosul, with a population of over one million, was captured by ISIS last summer. Since then, Iraqi officials have announced the possibility of starting operations to liberate this city, but for various reasons, such operations have been delayed.
Iran Criticizes Turkey's Military Presence in Iraq
Iran has criticized Turkey's military presence in Iraq, labeling it as a violation of regional security and calling for coordination with the Iraqi government. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has also condemned Turkey's actions as hostile and demanded the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Iraq. This situation highlights the tensions in the region regarding sovereignty and military interventions.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iran has criticized Turkey's military presence in Iraq, claiming it undermines regional security and violates Iraqi sovereignty. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has also condemned Turkey's actions and demanded the withdrawal of Turkish forces.
- Turkey has deployed several hundred soldiers near Mosul to train Iraqi forces.
- The Iraqi government considers Turkey's military presence as hostile and unauthorized.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iraq has been a battleground for various foreign influences, particularly in the fight against ISIS, which complicates its internal politics and security landscape.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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