Iraq Seeks Arab Help to Expel Turkey From Northern Iraq

Iraq summons Turkish envoy over 'flagrant aggression'

Turkey has long been a hassle for the Iraqi government, with Turkish troops active in the country’s north, and refusing to leave despite not having permission to be there. This is growing, after a Turkish drone killed two Iraqi officers in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iraq is now seeking help from Arab League nations to apply diplomatic pressure and try to convince Turkey to withdraw from the country. Iraq repeatedly slams Turkey over “flagrant aggression” in the border area.

Turkey has been invading northern Iraq off and on for years, targeting the Kurdish PKK and anyone else believed to be affiliated with them. The PKK moved into this area during a brief ceasefire with Turkey, and when it collapsed, it made this area of Kurdistan a target. 

Iraq’s complaints have done nothing to expel Turkey, and they seem to be hoping other nations will help. Since the Arab League states in question are mad at Turkey over Libya, this may be part of negotiations for a broader deal.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.