ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Plans to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State have hit another problem as sensitive operation information was leaked and political entities in Baghdad bicker over involvement of forces. An investigation has been called for after members of Iraq’s parliament apparently leaked sensitive plans for the operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi informed a meeting of journalists on Wednesday, “The plan to liberate Mosul has changed because some Iraqi MPs revealed the plan to media, which will cause risks for the Iraqi forces.” But, he vowed, “The liberation of Mosul will happen this year.” Member of Parliament Haitham al-Jubouri issued a statement calling for an investigation into the leak. He asked the prime minister to publish a list of those MPs involved and called for an “urgent investigation of the case.” Jubouri also urged an investigation into the military officials who passed information on the plans to liberate Mosul to the lawmakers, saying “this is not their job.” In his meeting with journalists, Abadi also expressed concerns about Turkey possibly playing a role in the battle for Mosul. “We have real concerns about Turkish ambitions in Mosul. Any Turkish interference or extension of its presence in Mosul will lead to a huge war next to the war on ISIS,” he warned. Not everyone shares the prime minister’s concerns. “It’s impossible for Turkey to have ambitions in Mosul or plans to occupy Iraq,” said Wahda al-Khamis, advisor to the parliamentary speaker, speaking to Akhbaar on 30 June. “The Iraqi state has its own sovereignty and Turkey too.” “It’s impossible that Turkey, like dark ISIS, is going to occupy Iraqi territories,” al-Khamis continued. “We, as Iraqis, are pleased to receive any international support in the fight against ISIS. The big conspiracy that Iraq faces now is putting up obstacles to the liberation of cities from ISIS.” These comments come at a time when Turkey is trying to improve relations with Baghdad. “Ankara is trying to normalize relations with Iraq and Egypt,” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told TRT channel on Tuesday. “We are working in one direction with all Iraqi parties, without differentiating between them. And we stand against sectarian politics.” The Turkish military has been training Sunni forces at the Gudadi base near Bashiqa in the Nineveh Plains. Their presence in the country has been a sore point for Baghdad who demanded they withdraw last December. Most of the 900 soldiers withdrew but a few dozen trainers remained to complete military preparation of Sunni recruits. Turkey backs the Sunni militia group Hashd al-Watani, the military equivalent of the Iranian-backed Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi. Nearly 9,000 Sunni fighters are being trained by the Turkish troops.
