Iraq Says Turkish Troops Near Withdrawal, Reaffirms State Control of Arms

Iraq has announced that Turkish forces are preparing to leave the country and hand over the Bashiqa base to the Iraqi army.

The planned transfer comes as Baghdad pursues efforts to end the foreign military presence following the conclusion of the international coalition’s mission.

The departure of Turkish troops would place Bashiqa under Iraqi army control, marking a step in Baghdad’s push to assume responsibility for military facilities on its territory.

Alongside those efforts, Iraq has reaffirmed its commitment to restricting possession of weapons to the state, linking the future of the country’s security to its own institutions.

The announcement described the Turkish withdrawal as approaching but did not specify a date for the troops’ departure or the base’s handover.