US: Foreign military forces can only be in Iraq with the permission of the Iraqi government

On Tuesday, the US State Department announced that international forces present in Iraq can only be there with the approval of the Iraqi government and under the umbrella of the coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS). Tensions between Baghdad and Ankara have escalated over the presence of two thousand Turkish troops in northern Iraq. It is reported that 500 of these troops are training Christians at the Bashiqa base. The Iraqi government has requested Turkey to withdraw its forces from its territory ahead of the Mosul liberation operation. ISIS captured the city of Mosul in 2014. According to Reuters, the US State Department stated that it is essential for all forces to be in complete coordination in the coming days and weeks to defeat ISIS and ensure necessary security for the people of Iraq. Meanwhile, John Kirby, the US State Department spokesperson, urged Turkey to respect the wishes of the Iraqi government. The spokesperson stated that all of Iraq's neighbors must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. John Kirby emphasized that both countries should focus on their common enemy, which is ISIS. He stressed that the Mosul liberation operation belongs to the Iraqi government. The Iraqi government is currently preparing for a large-scale operation to liberate Mosul and has requested Turkey to withdraw its forces from its territory; however, the Turkish government claims that its troops will remain in northern Iraq. Following the rejection of the Iraqi government's request, a verbal war has intensified between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. On Tuesday, in response to al-Abadi's objection to the presence of the Turkish army in northern Iraq ahead of the Mosul liberation operation, Erdoğan condescendingly told the Iraqi Prime Minister, 'You better understand your position.' According to AFP, Erdoğan, speaking at a rally in Istanbul directed at the Iraqi Prime Minister, said, 'He personally insults me. You are not my equal; you are not on 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 your place.' Meanwhile, Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesperson for the Iraqi Prime Minister, reacted to Erdoğan's remarks by saying, 'Erdoğan is pouring oil on the fire with these words,' indicating that Turkey is not serious about resolving this dispute. The spokesperson for the Iraqi Prime Minister stated that Turkey's reaction has turned a legal and security issue into a personal matter. The new round of tension between Iraq and Turkey began after the Turkish parliament approved the extension of the presence of Turkish soldiers for another year in Syria and Iraq. Haider al-Abadi has warned that the presence of Turkish forces increases the risk of a regional war. The Iraqi parliament has also referred to the Turkish army as an 'occupying force' in its resolutions in response to the presence of Turkish forces in its territory. International media report that the tension between Turkey and Iraq over this issue may complicate plans related to the Mosul liberation operation.