Iraq Warns Turkey (Again) To Withdraw Its Soldiers From Northern Iraq

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari speaks to reporters during a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq December 30, 2015. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily

Reuters: Iraqi PM says Turkey not respecting agreement to withdraw troops

Iraq's prime minister accused Turkey on Wednesday of failing to respect an agreement to withdraw its troops from the country's north and its foreign minister said if forced, Iraq could resort to military action to defend its sovereignty.

The diplomatic dispute flared after Turkey deployed a force protection unit of around 150 troops earlier this month, citing heightened security risks near Bashiqa military base where its troops were training an Iraqi militia to fight Islamic State insurgents in nearby Mousl.

Iraqi security forces have had only a limited presence in Nineveh province, where the camp is located, since collapsing in June 2014 in the face of a lightning advance by Islamic State.

WNU Editor: The Turkish government has already made it very clear that they will not withdraw .... Davutoglu: Turkish forces will remain in Iraq until Mosul is liberated (New Europe). This is also not being helpful .... Turkey funds Sunni militia in Iraq, lawmaker says (Rudaw).

More News On Iraq Warning Turkey To Withdraw Its Soldiers From Northern Iraq

Iraq FM again warns Turkey to pull out of north region, threatens unspecified military action -- AP
Iraqi FM says could use military option against Turkey if forced -- Reuters
Baghdad Demands Turkey Withdraw Troops From Northern Iraq -- RFE
Iraq says Turkey not respecting deal to withdraw troops, threatens to take military action -- Today's Zaman

Turkey Announces That It Will Continue Its Withdrawal Of Troops From Northern Iraq

New York Times: Turkey to Continue Withdrawal of Troops From Northern Iraq

ISTANBUL — Turkey announced on Saturday that it would continue to withdraw its troops from a military base in northern Iraq, saying that there had been miscommunication with Baghdad regarding the deployment of the forces, sent as part of a mission to train Kurdish and Sunni Arab forces in the fight against the Islamic State.

Turkey recently sent reinforcements to the base in Bashiqa, near Mosul, as part of an international training mission, sparking an angry reaction from the Iraqi government, which said it had never invited the Turkish force.

This week, Turkey withdrew some of the troops after talks between Turkish and Iraqi leaders. On Saturday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said it would continue to move its troops out of the camp.

It was not immediately clear how many troops would be moved.

More News On Turkey Announcing That It Will Continue Its Withdrawal Of Troops From Northern Iraq

Turkey 'to withdraw more troops from Iraq' -- BBC
Turkey announces troop withdrawal from Iraq after Obama appeal: ministry -- AFP
Turkey says will continue to move troops from northern Iraqi province -- Reuters
Turkey Announces Troop Withdrawal From Northern Iraq -- RFE
Turkey to move troops from Iraq -- CNN
Turkey to Withdraw Troops From Iraq After Obama Appeal -- VOA
Amid tension, Turkey agrees to pull more troops out of Iraq -- DW

Tensions Continue To Rise Between Turkey And Iraq Over The Deployment Of Turkish Forces In Northern Iraq

Reuters: Shi'ite militias threaten Turkey over incursion into Iraq

Shi'ite paramilitary groups with ties to Iran threatened to use force against Turkey on Wednesday unless it withdraws its troops from Iraqi territory, after a 48-hour deadline set by the government expired.

Turkey deployed a contingent of troops to a camp near the frontline in northern Iraq last week, provoking an outcry in Baghdad, which condemned it as a violation of sovereignty and asked NATO to intervene.

The area north of Mosul where the Turkish troops are stationed is under the control of Kurdish forces and Shi'ite militia have no presence there, which would make it difficult for them to follow through on the threats.

WNU Editor: Turkey is not going to remove their forces from northern Iraq .... Turkey defends deployment of additional troops in Iraq as 'act of solidarity' (AP).

More News On The Tensions Between Turkey And Iraq

Tensions Grow Between Turkey and Iraq -- WSJ
Turkish jets strike Kurdish positions in Iraq amid rising tension between Ankara & Baghdad -- RT
Iraqi Kurdish leader meets Erdogan as Ankara-Baghdad troop row rankles -- AFP
Russia Lashes Out at Turkey Over Troops in Iraq -- VOA
Russia says Turkey acted 'recklessly' by sending troops into Iraq -- AP
Russia-Turkey Relations: Moscow Accuses Ankara Of ‘Recklessly And Inexplicably’ Sending Troops To Iraq -- IBTimes

Iraq's 48 Hour Ultimatum To Turkey To Pull Back It's Troops Has Expired

Reuters: Iraq at U.N. plays down dispute with Turkey over troop deployment

Iraq asked NATO on Tuesday to put pressure on alliance member Turkey to withdraw its troops immediately from northern Iraq after Ankara said it would not deploy any more but refused to pull out those already there.

The arrival of a heavily armed Turkish contingent near the frontline close to Mosul has added yet another controversial deployment to a war against Islamic State that has drawn in most of the world's major powers.

"NATO must use its authority to urge Turkey to withdraw immediately from Iraqi territory," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement, posted after a 48-hour deadline set by Baghdad for a withdrawal of the troops expired.

WNU Editor: The 48 hour ultimatum has passed, and Turkish forces are still in Iraq. I also do not expect any response from NATO on Iraq's request to tell fellow-NATO member Turkey to leave.

More News On The Growing Rift Between Iraq And Turkey On Turkish Forces In Northern Iraq

Iraq calls on NATO to force withdrawal of Turkish forces -- Rudaw
Turkey halts troop deployment to Iraq but will not withdraw -- DW
Tensions Grow Between Turkey and Iraq -- WSJ
Baghdad ultimatum to Ankara expires, Moscow to discuss Turkish military invasion at UNSC -- RT
Russia: Presence Of Turkish Forces In Iraq 'Unacceptable' -- RFE
Protesters in Baghdad call for withdrawal of Turkish troops from northern Iraq -- Euronews
Why is Turkey stirring the Iraqi cauldron? -- Semih Idiz, Al-Monitor

Turkey Will Not Withdraw Its Military Forces In Iraq

Turkey has deployed hundreds of soldiers and a number of tanks to northern Iraq without Baghdad's permission. (Reuters, file photo)

AFP: Turkey won't pull back troops deployed to Mosul: official

Turkey will not withdraw troops it has deployed near an area controlled by the Islamic State group, a senior Turkish official said, after Iraq ordered the immediate withdrawal of its latest contingent.

Turkey deployed up to 300 soldiers to the Bashiqa area near the city of Mosul, the jihadist group's main hub in Iraq, describing it as a routine rotation in its programme of training Iraqis to retake the city from IS.

But Baghdad on Sunday gave Turkey 48 hours to withdraw its forces, saying they had entered the country illegally and threatening to appeal to the UN Security Council.

"We expect them to remain," the official told a group of foreign media representatives in Istanbul.

Previous Post: Iraq Issues Ultimatum To Turkey To Withdraw Its Military Forces That Are Deployed Near Mosul

WNU Editor: This is heading for a showdown .... the question is .... what will Iraq now do? .... and what can they do?

Turkey Announces That It Will Not Withdraw Its Military Forces In Iraq

Turkey to keep troops at base in northern Iraq despite Baghdad's orders to pull out within 48 hours -- Sydney Morning Herald
Turkey refuses to withdraw troops sent to north Iraq base -- The Guardian/Reuters
Turkey defends ground troops in Iraq as war escalates -- Reuters
Iraq warns Turkey to pull forces, Ankara says unlikely -- Xinhuanet
Turkey seeks to soothe Iraq’s concerns after ultimatum over troops -- Today's Zaman

Iraq Issues Ultimatum To Turkey To Withdraw Its Military Forces That Are Deployed Near Mosul

Reuters: Turkey to stop sending soldiers to Iraq after Baghdad protests

Turkey said on Sunday it would halt further transfers of troops to an area near the Islamic State-controlled Iraqi city of Mosul after Baghdad threatened to appeal to the United Nations to force Turkey to withdraw its soldiers.

Turkey deployed hundreds of forces to a camp in the Bashiqa region of northern Iraq on Thursday, calling it a routine rotation to train Iraqis to retake Mosul from Islamic State, which captured Iraq's second-largest city in 2014.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his country might turn to the U.N. security council if Turkish troops sent to northern Iraq were not withdrawn within 48 hours.

WNU Editor: Zero Hedge's analysis on why this development is dangerous is probably accurate .... Iraq May Seek "Direct Military Intervention From Russia" To Expel Turkish Troops (Zero Hedge). More here .... Iraq Could Ask Russia for Help After 'Invasion' by Turkish Forces (Sputnik).

More News On Iraq Issuing An Ultimatum To Turkey To Withdraw Its Military Forces That Are Deployed Near Mosul

Turkey Vows No More Troops in Iraq Without Baghdad Approval -- Bloomberg
Turkey to halt troop transfers to Iraq after angry objections from Baghdad -- DW
Turkey To Stop Sending Troops To Iraq After Baghdad Warning -- IBTimes
Iraq Gives Turkey 48 Hours to Withdraw its Military Near Mosul -- WSJ
Iraq gives Turkish forces 48 hours to leave country -- AFP
Iraq threatens Turkey with UN action over troop deployment -- BBC
Iraq: Turkey Troops Near Mosul Violating International Law -- AP
Arab League Slams Turkey's 'Blatant Intervention' in Iraq -- Sputnik
Arab League condemns Turkish ‘intervention’ in N. Iraq -- RT
Syria condemns Turkish soldiers in Iraq; Ankara says they are training Kurds -- Rudaw
Turkey says has duty to protect soldiers in Iraq after Baghdad ultimatum -- Reuters

Has Turkey Just Invaded Iraq?

Stratfor

BBC: Iraq demands Turkish troops withdraw from near Mosul

The Iraqi government has demanded that Turkey withdraw troops it sent to an area near the northern city of Mosul.

The move was "serious breach of Iraqi sovereignty" Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said in a statement.

About 150 Turkish soldiers have been deployed near in the town of Bashiqa to train Iraqi Kurdish forces, earlier reports said.

Mosul has been under the control of the Islamic State (IS) group since last year.

The statement called on Turkey to "respect good neighbourly relations and to withdraw immediately from the Iraqi territory".

WNU Editor: Some are saying that this Turksih deployment of troops into Iraq is not a big deal .... The Routine Nature of Turkey's Presence in Iraq (Stratfor). Unfortunately .... nothing in the Middle East can be taken for granted any-more, and while this Turkish deployment is small, everyone knows that this can increase exponentially overnight.

More News On Turkey Deploying Soldiers Into Northern Iraq

‘Incursion’: Baghdad demands Turkey withdraw ‘training’ troops from northern Iraq -- RT
Iraq demands withdrawal of Turkish forces near Mosul: statements -- Reuters
Iraqi Leader Demands Withdrawal of Turkish Troops Near Mosul -- RFE
Turkish soldiers enter northern Iraq, Baghdad demands swift withdrawal -- DW
Turkey's Iraq deployment not part of U.S.-led coalition -officials -- Reuters
Turkish soldiers training Iraqi troops near Mosul: sources -- Reuters
Turkish troops go into Iraq to train forces fighting Isis -- The Guardian
Turkey Sends Battalion Into Iraq -- VOA
Turkish troops on Iraqi training mission moved to outskirts of Islamic State-held Mosul -- AP
Turkey is deploying troops near ISIS's most important city -- Business Insider

Iraq And The Islamic State Unite Against Turkey And Its Use Of Water From the Euphrates River

(Click on Image to enlarge)

L.A. Times: Iraq And The Islamic State Are United Against Turkey And Its Water Usage

There’s one thing Islamic State militants and the Iraqi government they’re besieging agree on: Turkey is using more than its fair share of water.

Water levels on the Euphrates River that flows 2,700 kilometers (1,700 miles) from eastern Turkey through Syria and Iraq past ancient Mesopotamian lands have fallen more than half this year, withering farmers’ crops and raising the risk of a wider regional conflict, Iraqi officials say.

Iraq and Islamic State say Turkey needs to release more water from its dams to replenish the river in the former Fertile Crescent area where drought-like conditions endanger millions. The situation has grown even more acute for Iraq after Islamic State, whose holdings fall within the watershed, used a dam captured in Ramadi in June to cut off water to government areas.

WNU Editor: This is an issue that has been around for decades .... but it appears that Turkey is now taking advantage of the chaos to meet its own water needs knowing all too well that Iraq and the Islamic State are powerless to stop them.

Turkey's PM: Iraq Is At The Brink Of A Sectarian Civil War

Time: Turkey PM Warns That Assault on ISIS in Tikrit Could Ignite Sectarian Tensions

Warnings that a defeat for ISIS could lead to bloody Sunni-Shi'ite warfare in Iraq

By sending Shi’ite militias and Iranian forces to battle ISIS in Tikrit, Iraq risks stoking the sectarian divide that nourishes the extremist group. So warns Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

“If Daesh is a big threat in Iraq, another threat is Shi’ite militias,” Davutoglu told TIME in a Wednesday interview, referring to the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria by its Arabic initials. “This is very important. If Daesh evacuates Tikrit or Mosul and if Shi’ite militias come in, then there will be sectarian war. Therefore all these cities, Sunni populated areas, should be liberated by the inhabitants of those cities.”

WNU Editor: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's warnings are too late .... Iraq is now a sectarian civil war.

Conflict Brewing Over Turkey's Dams On The Rivers That Feed Iraq

Photo: The Fertile Crescent is left dry as Turkish dams reduce the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to a trickle (Image: AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Fertile Crescent 'Will Disappear This Century' -- The New Scientist:

Is it the final curtain for the Fertile Crescent? This summer, as Turkish dams reduce the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to a trickle, farmers abandon their desiccated fields across Iraq and Syria, and efforts to revive the Mesopotamian marshes appear to be abandoned, climate modellers are warning that the current drought is likely to become permanent. The Mesopotamian cradle of civilisation seems to be returning to desert.

Last week, Iraqi ministers called for urgent talks with upstream neighbours Turkey and Syria, after the combination of a second year of drought and dams in those countries cut flow on the Euphrates as it enters Iraq to below 250 cubic metres a second. That is less than a quarter the flow needed to maintain Iraqi agriculture.

Read more ....

My Comment: Turkey has made it clear that they have no interest to compromise on water flow into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers .... which means that Iraq is slowly drying up. The long term consequences and implications of these actions cannot be underestimated. Iraq is literally drying up, and if this continues, it will not be able to sustain its population.

The situation may be bad today, but it will be a picnic when compared to not having the water necessary to maintain a city like Baghdad or any other major Iraqi city on these rivers. The choice for Iraq will then be clear .... give us more water or it will be (literally) a war for our survival.