Iraq’s Fatah Alliance opposes Turkey’s efforts to engage Iraq in military actions against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according to a recent report by the UK-based Al Arab newspaper.
Al Arab quoted Ali al-Fatlawi, a member of the Fatah Alliance, who stated, “The Kurds [the Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP] want us to fight on behalf of the Peshmerga in their battles against the PKK.” Al-Fatlawi also said, “We will not shed the blood of our children in a war for which we have no cause.”
Citing the Al Arab report, renowned Kurdish journalist Amed Dicle posted on social media platform X that “a ‘Security Agreement’ was signed between Turkey and Iraq, but its implementation was postponed to an indefinite date.”
Londra merkezli @alarabonline gazetesi Ankara-Bağdat arasındaki 'PKK' konulu anlaşmaya ilişkin ilginç bir haber yayınladı.
Güvenilir kaynaklara dayandırılan habere göre, Türkiye-Irak arasında bir 'Güvenlik Anlaşması' imzalandı ancak uygulanması belirsiz bir tarihe ertelendi.… pic.twitter.com/MMK8cPf4aM— Amed Dicle (@ameddicleT) April 25, 2024
The Fatah Alliance is an umbrella body, which includes the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). The PMF is a coalition of militias of Shia Muslims, who previously fought alongside Iraqi government forces against the Islamic State (ISIS). The Fatah Alliance was formed to contest the 2018 Iraqi general election.
Al Arab pointed out that one reason for the PMF’s objections was their previous experience of coordinating with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters in the defence of Sinjar (Şengal), a Yazidi stronghold in Iraq’s northwest, against ISIS.
Al Arab also cited sources stating that the Alliance’s objections could be due to “external” factors putting “the brake on security cooperation between Baghdad and Ankara”. The newspaper explained that “the Shiite factions opposed to expanding this cooperation are known to be very close to Iran, which is expected to be wary of Turkey’s entry as a major competitor for influence in Iraq, especially if that influence affects the security aspect”.
Despite Turkey’s significant diplomatic and economic efforts, including the signing of multiple agreements during President Erdoğan’s recent visit to Iraq, there was a notable failure to establish a definitive security agreement aimed at combating the PKK. The visit was marked by the creation of a security committee to further study the agreement, which some interpreted as mere bureaucratic foot-dragging.
Iran’s significant influence in Iraq stands as a potential obstacle to the ambitious goals established during Erdoğan’s recent visit, despite the optimistic tone set by the Turkish president and Iraqi officials. Experts cited by VOA on Wednesday suggest that Iran is poised to challenge any efforts that might alter the regional balance of power.
Muhannad al-Janabi, an Iraqi political researcher, criticised the government’s handling of security negotiations with Turkey: “The Iraqi government is responsible for the form and limits of any security agreement. The lack of transparency in the security file during the Turkish President’s visit to Iraq will give Turkey opportunities to encroach on our sovereignty under the pretext of a vague agreement with the al-Sudani government, and its consequences will be borne by subsequent governments for decades.”
Turkey’s strategy includes leveraging economic and developmental cooperation to press for security cooperation. This involves linking significant projects like the development road project from the Iraqi port of Faw to Turkish territory to broader goals, veiled as security and counter-terrorism initiatives.
