Turkey Strengthens Its Presence in Iraq by Establishing New Military Bases

5th February 2025

3 minutes read

Turkey Strengthens Its Presence in Iraq by Establishing New Military Bases

An Iraqi lawmaker calls for an extraordinary parliamentary session to discuss what he describes as “serious events,” arguing that Turkey’s military incursion is a blatant violation of all international conventions and norms.

Turkey’s military incursion into Iraq’s Kurdistan region has sparked widespread controversy, with criticism directed at the federal government for turning a blind eye to Turkish threats. Hussein Al-Amiri, a member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, has urged the Iraqi parliament to hold an emergency session to address the issue, warning against what he called a “Turkish occupation” of Iraqi land.

The Kurdish-Iraqi news outlet “Shafaq News” quoted Al-Amiri as saying that significant security developments have recently occurred, warning of their broader implications for Iraq and the region as a whole.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has recently vowed to eliminate the Kurdish insurgency, increasing military strikes against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) strongholds in northern Iraq. At the same time, Ankara is pressuring Baghdad to engage in a war against the PKK, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization.

The Iraqi MP described Turkey’s expansion into Iraqi territory as “unprecedented,” highlighting not only the incursion and establishment of military bases but also the deployment of reinforcements into the autonomous region. He stated that Turkish airstrikes on multiple areas in northern Iraq had “resulted in numerous casualties and the occupation of large areas of land.”

He further stated that “the number of Turkish military bases inside Iraq has now reached around 20, in addition to dozens of sites, all established without the approval of the federal government.” He added that Ankara had strengthened its military presence in Dahuk and Erbil provinces, as well as in several districts, under the pretext of counterterrorism efforts.

The lawmaker warned of a “serious threat” to Iraq’s security, sovereignty, and stability, stating that Turkey’s military incursion constitutes a clear violation of all international treaties, norms, and the principles of good neighborly relations.

He emphasized that Ankara seeks to expand its influence in northern Iraq, capitalizing on geopolitical changes in the region. He called for high-level diplomatic action to counter these challenges and ensure Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also revealed that Turkey is preparing to deploy additional military forces to reinforce its Bashiqa base north of Nineveh, as Ankara prepares for a major confrontation with Kurdish fighters.

Over the past 25 years, Turkey has established dozens of military bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan region to combat the PKK, which also maintains rear bases in the area.

Last year, Ankara and Baghdad signed a military and security cooperation agreement to combat terrorism, while Iraqi authorities officially designated the PKK as a “prohibited organization.”

During his visit to Baghdad la

te last month, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that he had conveyed Ankara’s expectation for Baghdad to classify the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent years due to Turkish airstrikes targeting multiple areas in Iraqi Kurdistan. Baghdad has repeatedly denounced these strikes as violations of its sovereignty, while Turkey has pressured Iraq to take stronger action against PKK militants.

Iraqi sources have recently revealed that Ankara is planning to establish a buffer zone where Turkish military bases would be distributed throughout Kurdistan as part of its efforts to extend a security belt covering all areas where the PKK is active.