Turkey to withdraw from Bashiqa base as Iraq moves to restore state control
Iraq and Turkey have agreed to a framework that will involve Turkish forces handing over a key Turkish military base in Iraq. “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 said on September 23.
This is an important step and comes amid many developments in Iraq. Iraq is also trying to rein in Iranian-backed militias. It says this will happen by June of 2027. In addition, the Yazidi YBS armed group has agreed to disarm. The Kurdish Peshmerga also announced a unification of forces this week. As such, Iraq is moving to consolidate federal control over many areas. This will essentially change the landscape of Iraq.
Many of these bases and issues are remnants of the ISIS war. When ISIS invaded Iraq, the Iraqi state collapsed in many parts of Iraq. This was especially true in Sunni areas, as well as in the Nineveh Plains and Sinjar. ISIS carried out a genocide against Yazidis. As a result, the Iranian-backed militias were empowered to fight ISIS. The Kurdish Peshmerga also stepped forward to take up hundreds of miles of the front line. Turkey expanded its role in Iraq.
Turkey claimed to be expanding its role because it was fighting the PKK. However, the Bashiqa Turkish base was something else. It helped support the Peshmerga from the heights overlooking the town of Bashiqa. It was also working with some Sunni Arab forces. Turkey was also keen to monitor what was happening in Sinjar. Ankara feared that PKK-linked groups in Syria and Sinjar might exploit the vacuum in power. It was also wary of PKK-linked elements at Makhmour camp, a Kurdish displaced persons’ camp near Makhmour.
According to the Iraqi prime minister’s office, “the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, Mr. Ali Falih Al-Zaidi, and the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, met in New York on 23 September 2026.” The report says that “the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in the security field, during negotiations in which the Iraqi and Turkish authorities discussed the strategic relations between the two countries from all aspects; and in this context, they agreed to extend the full authority of the Iraqi state in Sinjar, and to end the presence of prohibited foreign armed elements.”
The result is also a deal for the Bashiqa camp. This camp had several positions near it. The Jerusalem Post covered this frontline near Bashiqa in 2015-2016. The Turkish forces provided fire support against ISIS. The camp was modern and well maintained. “The two sides also agreed to expand the volume of bilateral trade and investment, the immediate implementation of the signed agreements, and the acceleration of joint strategic projects, especially the Development Road project,” the report says.
The meeting will lead to more Iraqi authority in Sinjar. This is a result of YBS saying it will hand over its weapons and integrate with the Iraqi state. Turkey will be pleased. Turkey is involved in a peace process with the PKK. It wants to see all the PKK-linked groups disarmed as part of this process.
Turkey also has numerous bases in the mountains of the Kurdistan region. Bashiqa camp is not in the mountains. It is on land between Erbil and Dohuk, overlooking the Nineveh Plains. Ankara has numerous posts in the mountains near the border, above the city of Dohuk. This is where Turkey was fighting the PKK for several decades.
Rudaw also reported on the handover. This will be important for the Kurdistan Region. The Turkish forces were controversial in several ways. Iranian-backed militias opposed them and conditioned their disarmament on the Turkish forces leaving. Rudaw says “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.’”
The deal also comes as US forces of the anti-ISIS coalition are leaving Iraq. As such, many changes are afoot. Iraq is re-asserting its authority.
