Iraq welcomes Turkey's decision to withdraw troops from Mosul

 
ERBIL,Kurdistan Region- Baghdad has welcomed Turkey’s decision to start removing its troops from Iraq's Nineveh province, saying that it will continue the efforts for the complete withdrawal of all troops from the country.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Monday that he was pleased with Ankara's move.

“Turkey’s recent decision is the right choice to strengthen relations between the two countries, in respecting Iraqi territory and confronting the self-claimed Islamic State,” Jaafari said.

Jaafari spoke at the UN Security Council about the Turkish troop deployment in Iraq and urged members of the council to condemn the move as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

Ankara announced Sunday that it will start a gradual withdrawal of troops from camp Bashik near Mosul, citing "miscommunication" with Iraqi authorities over the deployment decision.

The 150 soldiers were sent to Iraq, Turkish officials said earlier this month, to train local forces near Mosul and the Kurdish Peshmerga.