Baghdad ‘concerns’ stops flow of Turkish troops into Iraq

Turkey says it will halt further military interventions in northern Iraq for the time being following an ultimatum by Iraq.   

Ankara announced that it will cease transferring troops to Daesh-controlled areas near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul after Baghdad threatened to appeal to the UN over the troop deployments on Sunday, Reuters reported.

“No further forces will be deployed to Bashiqa until concerns of the Iraqi government are overcome,” read a letter sent to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi by his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu.

Earlier in the day, the Iraqi premier warned that if Ankara does not withdraw its troops within 48 hours, Iraq may turn to the UN security council.

He noted that the deployment had been carried out without the approval or knowledge of the Iraqi government and was a violation of the country’s national sovereignty.

On Thursday, Turkey deployed hundreds of troops to the Bashiqa region to allegedly to train Iraqi troops for the battle against the Daesh Takfiri terrorists who are in control in Mosul.

Ankara’s commitment to the fight against Daesh has been repeatedly questioned as it has been accused of using the campaign as a cover to attack the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants.

Turkey has also been implicated in Daesh sale of Syrian oil, which is reportedly tramsferred through the Turkish border.

The oil transfer was particularly highlighted when Russian authorities opened up about it in the wake of downing of a Russian jet by the Turkish air force.