Iraq to boost security with cutting-edge military bases along Türkiye border

Iraq is taking significant steps to enhance its border security with Türkiye by establishing new military base zones along their shared 384-kilometer (226.18-mile) border.

The move is part of ongoing efforts to combat regional security threats, including terrorism, and strengthen defence infrastructure, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Sabah Numan, spokesperson for the Iraqi Armed Forces, highlighted the importance of the project, stating, “We are building many new border bases, taking into account the geographical characteristics and strategic importance of the region.”

Numan emphasized that Iraq’s security forces are working diligently to protect all of the country’s borders, with a particular focus on the critical area along the Türkiye border.

The border spans through the northern Iraqi provinces of Irbil and Duhok, areas of particular concern due to the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union. The PKK has used these regions as a hideout for its senior cadres, making it a priority for both Baghdad and Ankara.

“We are reinforcing this line with the most up-to-date technical and logistical infrastructures,” Numan added, reflecting the modern approach Iraq is adopting to secure its borders. The Iraqi military is also collaborating closely with the Peshmerga, the armed forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which controls the northern regions. This cooperation is vital, particularly in areas where PKK activities are most prevalent.

The cooperation between Iraq and Türkiye has been increasingly focused on countering the PKK and other terrorist groups, such as Daesh. In April 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Iraq, and the two countries signed several security cooperation agreements. These agreements were primarily aimed at targeting the PKK and Daesh operatives threatening both nations. Ankara has maintained dozens of military bases in northern Iraq and conducted several cross-border operations against PKK militants since 2019, though these actions have at times drawn criticism from Baghdad for violating Iraq’s sovereignty.

The two countries have worked to overcome these challenges by strengthening mutual coordination, especially in border security. Recent developments, including a meeting between Iraqi Border Guard officials and Turkish counterparts in February 2023, further emphasized the importance of information exchange and collaborative security efforts.

The PKK, responsible for over 40,000 deaths in Türkiye over a decades-long insurgency, continues to be a major security threat in the region. However, the situation could be shifting, as PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan recently called for the dissolution of the group, a move welcomed by Iraq’s KRG President Nechirvan Barzani.

By Vafa Guliyeva