Turkey and Iraq agree to transfer the Bashiqa military camp to Baghdad
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What happened
Ankara and Baghdad announced within the past 24 hours that Turkey will gradually transfer control of the Bashiqa camp near Mosul to Iraqi authorities. The move changes the disposition of one of Turkey's best-known military positions in northern Iraq and follows a period of closer Turkish-Iraqi coordination on border security and anti-PKK activity.
Why it matters
The agreement removes one longstanding bilateral dispute over Turkish military presence on Iraqi territory and may reset the terms under which Turkey operates in northern Iraq. It also creates an immediate implementation question over sequencing, force posture, and whether the handover is isolated to Bashiqa or signals further adjustments.
Turkey and Iraq said they agreed that Turkey will gradually hand over the Bashiqa military camp in northern Iraq to the Iraqi government. The camp has been a recurring source of friction between Ankara and Baghdad since Turkey established a military presence there during the campaign against ISIS. The announcement marks a concrete change in the status of one Turkish military position in Iraq while both sides continue security cooperation against the PKK.
Watch for
Iraq's Joint Operations Command statement by 2026-09-27 on the handover timetable or receiving units for Bashiqa Turkey's Ministry of National Defense statement by 2026-09-27 specifying whether the transfer affects only Bashiqa or broader force posture in northern Iraq Commercial satellite imagery between 2026-09-24 and 2026-09-27 showing reduced Turkish vehicle density or equipment removal at the Bashiqa camp Kurdistan Regional Government or Nineveh provincial security acknowledgement by 2026-09-27 of Iraqi federal forces taking over perimeter control at Bashiqa
Sources
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