Turkey and Iraq agree Turkey will turn over military camp in northern Iraq

On September 23, 2026, Iraq and Turkey reached an agreement that will see the Turkish military base in Bashiqa handed over to the Iraqi Federal Government. This development is significant as Iraq seeks to consolidate its federal control over various areas, especially in the wake of the ISIS war and the ongoing struggle against Iranian-backed militias.

The base in Bashiqa, located between Erbil and Dohuk, played a crucial role in supporting the Peshmerga forces and monitoring the situation in Sinjar. Turkey's presence in Iraq was initially driven by its conflict with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), but the base's strategic importance became evident during the fight against ISIS. However, the presence of Iranian-backed militias posed a challenge, as they were empowered to fight ISIS and necessitated the withdrawal of Turkish forces.

During a meeting in New York between the Prime Minister of Iraq, Ali Falih Al-Zaidi, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the two nations agreed to deepen cooperation in the security field. This included the transfer of full authority in Sinjar and the removal of prohibited foreign armed elements from the country. The agreement also focused on enhancing bilateral trade and investment, as well as implementing joint strategic projects like the Development Road project.

With the handover of the Bashiqa base, Iraq is taking a crucial step towards consolidating its federal control over various regions. This move comes as US forces involved in the anti-ISIS coalition withdraw from Iraq, leading to significant changes in the country's security landscape. The Kurdish Peshmerga, who have taken up the responsibility of defending the region, are also expected to integrate their forces with the Iraqi state, further strengthening Iraq's authority.