In this photo taken Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, Turkish army tanks move during maneuvers in Silopi, near Habur border gate with Iraq, southeastern Turkey. (AP)
2018-06-12
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SULAIMANI — Turkish troops will remain in northern Iraq until all militant groups are removed, Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Tuesday (June 12).
Canikli said the ongoing operations in northern Iraq are different from the previous ones as the army has set up military bases there.
“Turkish armed forces will remain in [northern Iraq] until the mission is completed,” Canikli said in an interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency.
He added Iran has also voiced support for the Turkey’s offensive in northern Iraq, including in the Qandil mountains.
Turkey is also in full agreement with Baghdad regarding the operation, he noted according to Reuters.
The Turkish military has entered 30 kilometers into northern Iraq, according to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.
Turkish warplanes intermittently carry out airstrikes against suspected PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced operations against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Qandil and Sinjar on Monday.
The three-decade armed struggle by the PKK against the Turkish government flared up again in 2015 after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire and settlement process.
(NRT)