Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiya al-Sudani has dispatched a delegation of senior security officials to Kurdistan to evaluate Turkey’s recent occupational invasion into Iraqi Kurdistan and form a unified position with local authorities, the Iraq National Security Council announced on Wednesday.
The council referred to “the interventions and violations of Turkish armed forces in the border area”, according to their statement, which strongly criticised “Turkish military incursions and any attack on Iraqi territory”, calling on Ankara to choose “diplomacy” and “coordination” with Baghdad on any security issue.
Meanwhile, “The presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) gives [Turkey] an excuse to carry out such activities. The presence of the PKK is illegal,” Rêber Ahmed, interior minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, said on Wednesday, adding that the “PKK should leave these areas so that the residents of these villages no longer have to be displaced.”
Since March, Turkish authorities have held extensive talks with both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to secure local support for the success of their incursions.
Within the scope of cooperation of these countries, on 22 April, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Iraq and met Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, as well as Prime Minister al-Sudani. They signed a series of 20 agreements.
During the meeting, Erdoğan spoke of “expectations” of Iraq regarding the fight against the PKK, and al-Sudani mentioned a “bilateral security coordination” that would meet the needs of both countries.
While Ankara demanded that the Iraqi government become much more actively involved in the fight against this movement, Baghdad designated the PKK as a “prohibited organisation”.
Moreover, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), an umbrella Kurdish political organisation, said that Erdoğan aimed to legitimise his invasion and planned attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan through his diplomatic visits.
In recent weeks, Turkey’s attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan have increased. Some reports mentioned Turkish forces establishing new positions. Turkish forces “have advanced 15 kilometres into Iraqi Kurdistan territory”, said the Community Peacemakers Teams (CPT), an NGO registered in the United States, that monitors Turkish incursions in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The Iraqi people have voiced their concerns about Turkey’s aim of creating a buffer zone and annexation. Public and prominent figures have launched a campaign against Turkey’s occupation invasion, on the grounds that it violates their national sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has arrived in Washington DC to participate in the NATO Summit 2024, Iraqi state media reported on Wednesday.
The NATO summit is underway amid rising concerns over Turkey’s deepening military presence in Iraqi Kurdistan. The United States has urged Turkish coordination with Baghdad and Erbil (Hewlêr) but has avoided addressing the civilian impact and invasion issue to the extent of violation of sovereignty of Iraq.
Kurdistan journalist Diyar Kurda questioned US policy on Turkey’s increased military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan at a State Department briefing on Wednesday. Spokesman Matthew Miller reiterated the call for Turkish coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities, and rejected to comment more on the invasion side of this new military incursion.
Turkey’s attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan, the relationship between the affected governments, and the US’ approach to the issue are expected to be discussed.
