Iraqi authorities denounced renewed Turkish military operations and incursions into northern Iraq on Wednesday, urging Ankara to address security issues diplomatically. The Turkish army has been targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, which Ankara and several Western allies consider a terrorist group.
Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani chaired a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss interventions and violations by Turkish forces in border areas. The council rejected Turkish military incursions and called for diplomatic engagement with the Iraqi government on security matters. A delegation led by the National Security Advisor will visit the Kurdistan Region to assess the situation and develop a unified stance on the issue.
Recent Turkish strikes deep inside Iraqi territory have strained bilateral ties. Turkish forces have reportedly advanced 15 kilometers into Iraqi Kurdistan territory, according to the Community Peacemakers Teams (CPT). Turkey’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler expressed determination to clear the border area with Iraq and Syria of terrorists.
In March, Baghdad quietly listed the PKK as a banned organization after Turkish officials visited Iraq. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized expectations for Iraq to combat the PKK during a visit in April, while Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi ruled out joint military operations between Baghdad and Ankara.
