Iraqi lawmakers are preparing to question the country’s Defence Minister Thabet al-Abbasi about a security agreement with Turkey that reportedly permits Turkish military operations in Iraq without including a clause for the withdrawal of Turkish forces.
Speaking to Iraqi media on Saturday, Ahmed al-Moussawi, a member of Iraq’s al-Sadiqoun Bloc, stated that the agreement, signed between Baghdad and Ankara, gives Turkish forces permission to conduct military attacks in Iraq “on the pretext of targeting the [Kurdistan Workers Party] PKK.”
He pointed out that “there is no provision for the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Iraq”, raising concerns among Iraqi officials about violations of sovereignty. Al-Moussawi noted that Iraqi MPs lack sufficient information about the agreement, prompting the call for the defence minister to provide clarification in a forthcoming parliamentary session.
The MP added that the defence minister is expected to explain the terms of the memorandum signed between Baghdad and Ankara, which many believe legitimises Turkey’s military actions against Iraq’s sovereignty. “The Iraqi parliament needs to understand the implications of this agreement,” he stated. He demanded an end to the attacks and urged the Iraqi government to safeguard its territorial integrity.
This development comes amid broader demands from Iraqi officials for Turkey’s complete military withdrawal from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, citing violations of sovereignty and international law. Hawre Tawfiq, General Director of Foreign Relations for the Iraqi Presidency, and Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, Secretary-General of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, have both called for a more assertive stance from the Iraqi government. Tawfiq condemned Turkey’s actions as “a breach of international law,” while Khazali called for a comprehensive plan for the withdrawal of Turkish forces.
Although there have been four security meetings between Iraq and Turkey since 2019 when Turkey entered northern Iraq for the first time in a decade, the ongoing military actions by Turkish forces have not ceased, and only a memorandum rather than a more formal agreement has been reached. Iraqi officials continue to press for a stronger governmental response to uphold Iraq’s sovereignty and comply with international law.
