{
  "id": 9420557,
  "title": "Turkey to hand over military base to Iraq",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/turkey-to-hand-over-military-base-to-iraq",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T21:37:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/turkey-hand-over-military-base-iraq"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Turkey has agreed to hand over control of its Bashiqa base, also referred to as the Baashiqa - Zeliqan camp or Zelikan camp, in northern Iraq to the Iraqi government. According to the Turkish presidency, this decision was made in a joint statement with Iraq, citing progress achieved by Iraqi security measures. The handover will be done gradually, following an agreed mechanism and timetable.\n\nThe announcement was made after a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who is also referred to as Ali al-Zaidi, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The agreement is seen as a step towards restoring full Iraqi control, particularly in areas such as Sinjar.\n\nThe Bashiqa base was established during the fight against ISIS, which had invaded Iraq and led to the collapse of the Iraqi state in many parts, particularly in Sunni areas, the Nineveh Plains, and Sinjar. The base's transfer to Iraqi federal forces is part of efforts to consolidate federal control over these areas.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Turkey to hand over military base to Iraq",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/turkey-to-hand-over-military-base-to-iraq-9432129",
        "published": "2026-09-23T22:59:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}