Alwaght-Turkey will launch a ground invasion in Iraq if it feels threatened by developments there, the country’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday amid an Iraqi offensive to drive ISIS terrorists from the city of Mosul.
He added that Ankara will not tolerate the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has waged a three-decade rebellion against the Turkish state demanding for greater Kurdish autonomy. Cavusoglu claimed that PKK is using parts of northern Iraq as bases.
He further claimed that Iraq's central government in Baghdad of "tying itself to a terrorist organization" and said Turkey would take whatever steps necessary to protect its soldiers stationed at the Bashiqa military camp, near the northern city of Mosul.
"If there is a threat to Turkey from Iraq, we will use all our resources and rights, including a ground operation," Cavusoglu said in an interview with the Kanal 24 TV station.
"We aren’t saying this to Iraqis alone, but to the United States and all coalition nations, to the northern Iraqi government," he said. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said last Sunday that Turkish troops stationed outside Mosul had provided artillery support involving tanks and howitzers following a request by Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
However Iraq's joint-operations command on Monday denied Turkey's claims. "The spokesman of the Joint Operations Command denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh," a statement said, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital.
Iraqi, Kurdish Peshmerga Forces Hit ISIS
Iraqi government forces have managed to liberate more areas around the northern city of Mosul as part of a massive offensive aimed at retaking the entire city from ISIS terrorists.
Iraq’s Joint Operations Command (JOC) announced on Wednesday that security forces had liberated Qala region and taken control of Janin military base east of Mosul, located some 400 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad. According to local sources, Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Iraqi army troops also continued their operations against ISIS in the vicinity of Iraq’s northwestern city of Mosul, and secured at least nine villages.
The Peshmerga hit ISIS positions in the eastern suburb of Mosul, using heavy artillery.
Mosul Operation and Turkey's Security
Is the current operation to eject ISIS terrorists from Mosul a threat to Turkey's security and why is Ankara insisting on being involved in the current operation by Iraqi forces in the city despite Baghdad's insistence that it need no Turkish support?
President Reccep Tayyib Erdogan should make clear his intensions in Iraq and what he intends to achieve by insisting that his forces enter Iraq while they are not welcome.
Probably Ankara intends to have an overbearing influence in Iraq by getting involved in Mosul. However it remains to be seen if such an approach can succeed or will backfire and have unintended results.
No doubt, Iraqis will not allow Turkey to continue its negative role in the country and they will stand firm to protect their country's sovereignty. A few days ago thousands of Iraqis surrounded the Turkish embassy in Baghdad to protest Turkey’s continued military presence in their country, as well as its stated intention to take part in the ongoing battle for Mosul. “Get out occupier!” shouted members of the crowd, many of whom were adherents of powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. “Fight terrorism in your own country,” read a placard held up by one of the protesters.
Queries have been raised as to why, Turkey has suddenly felt threatened by PKKs alleged presence in northern Iraq. If Turkey is really interested in fighting ISIS terrorists, then it should show similar zeal in battling the Takfiri group in neighboring Syria.
Regional observers believe Turkey’s disquiet about its role in the liberation of Mosul is not just based on its desire to take credit for defeating ISIS terrorists in the key Iraqi city.
Ankara is reportedly worried about the major role being played by Kurdish fighters, who are spearheading the current anti-ISIS offensive will give Turkish Kurds impetus for demanding statehood.
