Turkish state forces were present at several points in Nineveh, “which is a sign that a military operation is moving towards Sinjar”, according to Hawar News, based on a report by the Al-Arab newspaper.
The information, which is based on Iraqi intelligence, reveals the mobilisation of Turkish scout planes in the region. That mobilisation has increased after Turkish president Reccep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statements targeting Sinjar on 22 January.
According to the newspaper report, the Turkish state may begin preparations to occupy Sinjar on the pretext of the failure of the Sinjar agreement signed between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Erdoğan made provocative statements after Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and other Turkish officials recently paid a visit to Baghdad and Erbil.
Erdoğan reportedly took a tougher line towards both sides. According to the claims, the Turkish Defence Minister threatened the KRG over the border gate with Mosul if they did not cooperate with Turkey against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
