As if things could not get any worse in the Middle East—
Turkish forces reportedly bombed Kurdish forces in Eastern Turkey and Northern Iraq.
69 Kurdish fighters were reportedly killed in the clashes.
No justification for the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq and Kurdistan: and should withdraw immediately.
Turkish army is not welcome
— Peshmerga (@KURDISTAN_ARMY) December 18, 2015
Iraqi officials have called on the UN to demand Turkey withdraw its troops from Northern Iraq.
RT reported:
Iraq has urged the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for withdrawal of Turkish troops, which Iraq views as an “authorized invasion.” Turkey responded by accusing Iraq of sabotaging the fight against Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL).
The Security Council met Friday following a request from Iraq. At the meeting, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari asked the 15-member council to adopt a resolution that would demand Turkish withdrawal.
“Iraq has spared no effort to exhaust all diplomatic channels and bilateral negotiations with Turkey, in order to withdraw its forces that are unauthorized in Iraq,” Jaafari said.
He said he wanted the resolution to consist of two main points. “First, condemn that illegal Turkish occupation and invasion,” which violated Iraq’s sovereignty as well as UN Charter and international law. “Second, demand that Turkey immediately withdraws its troops and to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to recognize the border between the two countries,” Jaafari said.
According to Jaafari, UNSC complaint was his last resort.
Tensions between the two countries have increased dramatically since Turkey deployed about 150 soldiers backed by artillery and around 25 tanks to a base near the ISIS-controlled northern Iraqi city of Mosul on December 4.
Turkish President Erdogan said troop withdrawal is “out of the question.”
‘Out of question’: #Erdogan rules out Turkish troop withdrawal from Iraq https://t.co/EKF09hAjpM pic.twitter.com/NT9Hia3wOn
— RT (@RT_com) December 11, 2015