Iraq asks UNSC for resolution to request Turkey withdraw troops: FM
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Iraq's Foreign Minister says he asked the members of the UNSC to adopt a resolution asking Turkey to withdraw from Iraqi Kurdistan region.
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Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein (Anadolu Agency)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein told journalists that he asked the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution requesting that Turkey withdraw its troops from the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
In April, Turkey's Defense Ministry announced that Ankara has launched a major cross-border military offensive against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq.
The Turkish Foreign Minister Hulisi Akar claimed that the Turkish forces are only targeting "terrorists", and they are taking extra precautions to avoid civilian casualties and damage to cultural heritage.
The office of the Iraqi President Barham Salih considered that the Turkish offensive is a threat to the country's national security, while Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu claimed that Turkey's goal is to protect its borders.
"We asked the members of the Security Council to adopt a resolution asking Turkey to withdraw their army from Iraqi Kurdistan," Hussein said.
The Iraqi Minister pointed out that his country believes that the situation between Iraq and Turkey should be on the UN Security Council agenda because these kinds of activities cause concern.
Iraqi Army general: Turkish mobilization taking place at borders
Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army Abdel Emir Yarallah last week confirmed that Turkish mobilization is taking place on the country's borders.
He highlighted that there are five main bases in northern Iraq for the Turkish forces, explaining that the "bases include more than 4,000 Turkish fighters."
Yarallah pointed out that the number of military positions for the Turkish army in 2021 was 40, while today, there are 100 military positions inside Iraqi territory, renewing calls to "send forces from the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga to these areas to take back lands."
Iraq condemns Turkey's aggression in letter to UNSC
It is noteworthy that on Sunday, the Iraqi government sent a letter to the UNSC, saying that Baghdad documented more than 22,740 violations committed by the Turkish armed forces.
"Turkey has expansionist goals behind the aggressions it is committing, and there will be no security nor military accord with Ankara," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said.
"Baghdad's letter included a demand for an apology from the Turkish side to Iraq and its people."
The Foreign Ministry's statement said that "Baghdad expects the United Nations Security Council to issue a statement denouncing the Turkish violation of Iraq's sovereignty."
On his part, the Secretary-General of the Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq movement in Iraq, Sheikh Qais Khazali, called on the Iraqi parliament to issue a resolution obligating the government to expel Turkish forces from Iraq.
Signs of a diplomatic dispute erupted between Iraq and Turkey after Baghdad accused Ankara of launching a missile attack on a tourist resort in the northern Iraqi province of Dohuk on Wednesday, killing nine people, including children, and wounding dozens.
However, Ankara denied responsibility for the attack and said the PKK bears responsibility for the bombing of Dohuk.
