The Turkish army announces its withdrawal from a military base in Iraq that it has used for 11 years.
The Turkish army announces its withdrawal from a military base in Iraq that it has used for 11 years.
2026-10-01
Shafaq News – Ankara
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday its intention to withdraw from the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base in Iraq, which it has been using for 11 years, according to a timetable agreed upon with the Iraqi government.
In a statement seen by Shafaq News Agency, she said that the Bashiqa-Zilkan complex in Iraq, which has been used by the Turkish Armed Forces since 2015, will be gradually handed over to the Iraqi authorities, noting that the handover process will be carried out according to the agreed mechanism and timetable.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense expressed its welcome for the steps recently taken by the central Iraqi government “with the aim of imposing state authority in Sinjar,” explaining that the Bashiqa-Zilkan complex has been used since 2015 by the Turkish Armed Forces, at the request of the Iraqi authorities, as part of the fight against ISIS.
The ministry added that it was decided to hand over the complex to the Iraqi authorities, in light of the progress made in the security measures taken by the central Iraqi government in Sinjar.
According to the statement, the Bashiqa-Zilkan complex will not be handed over in one go, but the process will be carried out gradually according to the mechanism and timetable agreed upon between the two sides. The Turkish Ministry of Defense did not provide information regarding a specific date for the completion of the handover process.
In contrast, the ministry confirmed that Turkish military support for Iraq will continue despite the handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan complex.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense explained that Turkey will continue to stand by Iraq with regard to achieving security and stability in the region, noting the continued support for the Iraqi armed forces, within the framework of bilateral agreements, in the areas of strengthening military capabilities, exchanging experiences and specialization in combating terrorism, military training, and cooperation in the field of defense industries.
The ministry concluded its statement by saying: “Our country, as it did yesterday, stands today alongside our neighbor Iraq in achieving security and stability in the region.”
shafaq.com
