ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ankara is to embark on the gradual handover of a contentious military camp north of Nineveh province to the Iraqi government, both sides said in a joint statement on Sunday that highlighted Baghdad’s “commendable steps” in imposing state authority in Shingal (Sinjar) following the integration of Yazidi forces affiliated with the the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
“The Turkish side announces that it will begin taking the necessary steps toward the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zelkan camp to the Iraqi federal government,” read a statement shared by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).
“The Turkish and Iraqi authorities affirm their shared commitment to continuing the commendable progress already made by Iraqi authorities toward fully establishing state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of armed groups.,” the two sides said.
During a late September meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the two countries agreed on the base’s handover “consequent and in parallel” to Baghdad’s efforts in reorganizing and integrating the all-Yazidi Shingal Protection Units (YBS) into state security institutions.
Around 2,000 YBS fighters joined the Iraqi army and police as well as the state-funded Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in late October, with up to 4,000 more merging into state institutions in later phases.
Zaidi had announced two weeks before meeting with Erdogan that he had reached an agreement with the YBS to disarm and enable the federal government’s takeover of Mount Shingal. It formed part of the PM’s early promise of bringing all arms under state control, including those in the possession of pro-Iran groups.
The YBS emerged as a local Yazidi armed group and expanded significantly after the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked Sinjar in August 2014, killing and abducting thousands of Yazidis in a campaign recognized as genocide. YBS developed close ties with the PKK, whose fighters helped establish an escape corridor for Yazidis trapped on Mount Shingal during the offensive.
Iraq and Turkey will “jointly oversee and verify the progress” of YBS’ disarmament, the Sunday statement added. Both sides agreed to activate the “Joint Security Coordination Committee.”
The Bashiqa-Zilkan base was established in 2015 following the ISIS onslaught, with Turkey deploying around 900 troops and heavy weaponry. In addition to serving as a base to train Sunni fighters against ISIS, Ankara has also used the camp to limit the influence of the YBS. The base has been a source of diplomatic friction between Ankara and Baghdad, with Iraq accusing Turkey of violating its sovereignty.
However, the Turkish version of the statement released by the state-run Anadolu Agency provided different wording, saying the monitoring process aims at “completely eliminat[ing] the presence of the PKK terrorist organization.”
The YBS agreement to hand over its weapons comes against the backdrop of the Turkey-PKK peace process and broader efforts toward PKK’s disbandment.
Turkey has also maintained dozens of military bases in the Kurdistan Region for decades, citing its conflict with the PKK.
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