TÜRKİYE
1 min read
Ankara and Baghdad reaffirm commitment to ending PKK presence in Sinjar
Joint statement confirms continued Iraqi efforts to restore state authority, gradual handover of Bashiqa-Zilkan base and activation of joint security committee.
Ankara and Baghdad reaffirm commitment to ending PKK presence in Sinjar
Iraqi troops patrol as Baghdad moves to restore full state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of PKK elements.

Türkiye and Iraq reaffirmed on Sunday their commitment to restoring full state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of elements of the PKK terrorist organisation, according to a joint press statement published by Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

The statement said both countries reaffirmed their determination to ensure the continuation of the "commendable steps" taken so far by Iraqi authorities toward fully restoring state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of PKK elements, in line with an agreement reached by the two countries' leaders on September 23, 2026.

The Turkish side also announced that it would begin taking the necessary steps for the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan base to the Iraqi federal government, in accordance with the leaders' agreement.

The two sides further decided to activate the Joint Security Coordination Committee, as previously agreed, to jointly verify and monitor progress in the process launched in Sinjar to completely end the presence of the PKK terrorist organisation.

RelatedTRT World - Türkiye to gradually hand over Bashiqa-Zilkan base to Iraq: ministry