According to the newspaper Hürriyet, Iraq has, for the first time in a long while, set up two military bases on its border with Turkey. This move was coordinated with Turkey and is not directed against it; rather, it is aimed at ensuring the security of Iraqi territories.
The bases are established to protect Iraq’s border with the material and technical support from Turkey. A military analyst close to the government circles noted that preparations for a military operation by the Turkish Armed Forces against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq are actively underway, but the operation itself has not yet commenced.
It is reported that the operation may take place in the summer after the visit of Turkish President Erdogan to Iraq. The Turkish side intends to address the issue of border security with Iraq and create a security corridor in Syria extending 30-40 kilometers deep.
It is worth reminding that the conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party began in Turkey in 1984 and resumed in 2015. Turkey conducts air and ground operations against the PKK, which is located in northern Iraq. However, the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq has caused disagreement between Baghdad and Ankara.
