Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi and Turkish President Erdogan pledged deeper security cooperation at UNGA.
Published On 24 Sep 2026
Turkiye and Iraq have reached an agreement on the phased transfer of Ankara’s military installation in Bashiqa to Baghdad, according to the Iraqi prime minister’s office.
The arrangement follows talks on Wednesday between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The transfer resolves a long-standing dispute between the two countries.
Turkiye established the Bashiqa base, located northeast of Mosul, in December 2015 under an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government to train local forces combating ISIL (ISIS).
Baghdad had objected to the deployment of as many as 600 Turkish troops, considering it a breach of Iraqi sovereignty.
The Sinjar region has historically been central to Turkish military campaigns against PKK militants.
Cross-border operations in Sinjar diminished after a 2025 peace agreement between Ankara and the PKK, allowing federal authorities to extend control over the border area.
Wednesday’s deal marks the culmination of Baghdad’s months-long push to strengthen state authority in northern hotspots while deepening coordination with Ankara on trade routes and border security.
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