Baghdad warns of 'regional war' over
Turkish military presence
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[October 05, 2016]
By Maher Chmaytelli and Tuvan Gumrukcu
BAGHDAD/ANKARA (Reuters) - Iraq's prime
minister warned Turkey on Wednesday it risked triggering a regional war
by keeping troops in his territory, as the neighboring states summoned
each other's ambassadors in a mounting diplomatic stand-off.
Turkey's parliament voted last week to extend its military operation in
Iraq and take on "terrorist organizations" - a likely reference to
Kurdish militants and Islamic State.
Iraq's parliament responded on Tuesday night by condemning the Turkish
vote and calling for Turkey and its 2,000 troops to leave.
"We have asked the Turkish side more than once not to intervene in Iraqi
matters and I fear the Turkish adventure could turn into a regional
war," Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned in comments broadcast
on state TV on Wednesday.
"The Turkish leadership's behavior is not acceptable and we don't want
to get into a military confrontation with Turkey."
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The parliamentary votes have added more heat to an already
highly-charged and complex confrontation between regional powers,
triggered by the Syrian civil war and the rise of Islamic State.
MOSUL TENSIONS
The tensions between Iraq and Turkey have risen to the surface ahead of
a long-expected offensive by Iraqi and U.S.-backed forces to retake the
northern city of Mosul from Islamic State.
Turkey has warned the attack would send a wave of refugees over its
border and, potentially, on to Europe.
Ankara also worries Baghdad's Shi'ite Muslim-led forces will destabilize
the largely Sunni city close to its territory.
It is uncomfortable with the arrangement of Kurdish forces expected to
take part in the Mosul offensive, with the blessing of Baghdad and
Washington.
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![](../images/100516pics/news_n17.jpg)
Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi of Iraq addresses the United Nations
General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S.,
September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
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Turkey announced late on Tuesday it was calling in Iraq's ambassador
to complain about the parliamentary vote, and the foreign ministry
issued a statement expressing disappointment.
"We believe this decision does not reflect the views of the majority
of Iraqi people, whom Turkey has stood by for years and attempted to
support with all its resources," it said.
"We find it noteworthy that the Iraqi parliament, which has not said
anything about the accepted mandate for years, puts this on the
agenda as though it were a new development in times when terror is
taking so many lives in Turkey and Iraq."
On Wednesday, Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad to
protest what it said were "provocative" comments made in Ankara
about keeping Turkish troops in northern Iraq.
Turkey says it deployed troops to a base in northern Iraq late last
year as part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi
forces to fight Islamic State.
The Iraqi government says it never invited such a force and
considers the Turkish troops occupiers.
(Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Luke Baker;
Editing by Daren Butler and Andrew Heavens)
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