Full Breakdown
Iraq and Turkey Agree to Gradual Handover of Bashiqa-Zilkan Base in Northern Iraq
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Background & Context
Since 2015 Turkey has maintained a military presence at the Bashiqa-Zilkan (also reported as Baashiqa-Zeliqan) camp near Mosul. Ankara justified the deployment as training and protection for Iraqi forces and local Sunni, Turkmen and Kurdish fighters fighting the Islamic State (ISIS). The base has been a flashpoint, drawing attacks from PKK-linked groups and Iran-backed Iraqi militias, and prompting repeated Iraqi calls for Turkish withdrawal. In parallel, Iraq has been consolidating federal authority over former ISIS-era strongholds, including the Yazidi-majority Sinjar region, and encouraging the disarmament of the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a Yazidi militia linked to the PKK.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office issued a joint statement on September 23 declaring that “within the framework of the progress achieved by Iraq through security steps, the Turkish forces will gradually hand over the Baashiqa-Zeliqan camp to the Iraqi Federal Government, in accordance with the agreed mechanism and timetable.”
- A joint statement from the offices of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed mutual commitment to pull back Turkish troops from the base established in 2015, citing “security measures” that include ending the presence of proscribed foreign armed elements.
- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack welcomed the deal, saying it serves “Iraqi sovereignty and Turkish security.”
- Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar linked the agreement to the broader “Development Road” project, pledging to boost bilateral trade, energy interconnections and regional prosperity.
Criticism & Opposition
Iran-backed militias, which have opposed Turkish deployments, conditioned their own disarmament on the removal of Turkish forces from northern Iraq. Rudaw reported that these groups view the base as a symbol of foreign armed presence and have linked their willingness to cooperate with the completion of the handover.
Data & Statistics
- Turkish forces have occupied the Bashiqa-Zilkan camp since 2015.
- An Iraqi military commander familiar with the talks said the phased withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Bashiqa camp and a second small base near Mosul is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
What’s Next
The agreement specifies a “gradual” transfer according to a mutually agreed mechanism and timetable, but no exact dates were disclosed. Both governments indicated that the handover will proceed as Iraq implements security measures in Sinjar and eliminates prohibited foreign armed elements. Implementation of the Development Road transport corridor and acceleration of other signed bilateral agreements are also slated for rapid execution.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Within the framework of the progress achieved by Iraq through security steps, the Turkish forces will gradually hand over the Baashiqa - Zeliqan camp to the Iraqi Federal Government, in accordance with the agreed mechanism and timetable,” — Iraq’s Prime Minister’s Office
- “Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed their mutual commitment to pull back Turkish troops from a base in northeast Mosul established in 2015, a joint statement shared by Zaidi’s office said Wednesday, citing the fulfillment of ‘security measures’ that include ending the presence of proscribed ‘foreign armed elements.’” — Rudaw