ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed their mutual commitment to pull back Turkish troops from a base in northeast Mosul established in 2015, a joint statement shared by Zaidi’s office said Wednesday, citing the fulfillment of “security measures” that include ending the presence of proscribed "foreign armed elements” in Shingal (Sinjar).
On the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly session in New York, both leaders agreed to enforce full federal authority in the Yazidi heartland of Shingal, located west of Mosul, and the subsequent termination of “the presence of all proscribed foreign armed elements,” according to the statement.
The statement comes less than two weeks after the Shingal Resistance Units (YBS) - a Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) affiliated group whose presence was cited as a justification for Turkish groups in the area - earlier in September agreed to an arms handover and integration with Iraqi security forces in a meeting with the Iraqi premier in Baghdad.
“Consequent and in parallel” to Baghdad’s “progress” in “implementing these security measures,” the statement continued, Ankara “reaffirms its commitment to a gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan Camp to the Iraqi Federal Government, in accordance with agreed upon mechanisms and timelines.”
The Bashiqa-Zilkan base was established in 2015 at the onset of the Islamic State (ISIS) onslaught, with Turkey deploying around 900 troops and heavy weaponries. The base has been a source of diplomatic friction between Ankara and Baghdad, with the latter accusing the former of breaching its sovereignty.
YBS’ weapons handover occurs against the backdrop of the Turkey peace process in the context of PKK disbandment
Meanwhile, Iraqi Ground Forces Commander Qassim al-Mohammedi said Tuesday that “all non-Iraqi armed men must leave the area because this isn’t their area of operation, and their presence cannot be accepted,” according to Iraq’s state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).
“There is a plan to integrate Iraqis in the area into security formations and to work towards forming a local administration that will manage the affairs of the citizens,” he added.
Rudaw reported earlier this month that Baghdad planned to integrate between 1,500 and 2,000 Iraqi fighters linked to the YBS into the security forces.
Of relevant note, Iran-backed armed factions have repeatedly mentioned the withdrawal of Turkish troops as a prerequisite for their disarmament - a goal Zaidi stated to achieve after the withdrawal of the US-led Global Coalition forces on September 30.
On Monday, Ashab al-Kahf, an Iran-backed group, announced that their disarmament will “take place after all foreign forces withdraw from Iraqi territory,” naming the Coalition as well as Turkish forces, “and after an end to all forms of occupation."
The demand was previously raised by Kata’ib Hezbollah - another group loyal to Iran - in August.
[Updated at 10:57 pm].
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