Iraq Says Turkish Troops Set to Leave, 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 withdrawal comes as Baghdad pursues efforts to end the foreign military presence following the conclusion of the international coalition’s mission.

The handover would place Bashiqa under Iraqi army control, marking a step in Baghdad’s push to bring military facilities under national authority. No departure date or handover timetable was provided.

Alongside those efforts, Iraq has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of the state, linking the departure of foreign forces with its broader assertion of security authority.