Turkey will hand over key base in Iraq in a gradual troop withdrawal deal

Turkey has reached an agreement to gradually withdraw troops from a key military base in northern Iraq and transfer control to the Iraqi government, following a meeting between the two nations' leaders during the U.N. General Assembly in New York. This decision follows a joint statement released by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, which outlines the timeline and mechanism for the handover.

The strategic Bashiqa-Zelikan camp, Turkey's furthest base from its border, has been a contentious issue between the two countries, with Turkey struggling to fully withdraw forces despite previous talks. In addition to the base withdrawal, Iraq has pledged to remove armed groups considered security threats to the region of Sinjar, including the Sinjar Resistance Units, a Yazidi militia affiliated with the PKK.

The Iraqi government recently announced that these units had agreed to disarm and integrate eligible fighters into Iraqi security forces. Meanwhile, the United States is concluding its long-standing military presence in Iraq by September 30. Turkey is concurrently engaged in peace talks with the PKK, aiming to end a decades-long conflict.