Biden welcomes Turkish troops’ withdrawal from Iraq’s Bashiqa Camp: White House

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden welcomed the reported withdrawal of Turkish troops from a camp in Iraq's Bashiqa region, the White House said on Monday.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu spoke with the U.S. Vice President over the phone on Monday regarding the fight against Daesh and the recent developments in Iraq. Biden, in the call, said the move of Turkish troops from Camp Bashiqa was "an important step to de-escalate recent tensions," the White House said in a statement.

"The Vice President encouraged the Turkish government to continue its dialogue with Baghdad on additional measures to improve relations between Turkey and Iraq," it said.

"Both leaders [Davutoğlu and Biden] reaffirmed their commitment to Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity."

According to various reports, the Turkish troops deployed in Bashiqa started moving north with a convoy consisting of 10-12 vehicles, and the move came as part of a new arrangement.

An unspecified number of tanks also reportedly left the camp.

On December 4, 150 Turkish soldiers equipped with heavy weapons arrived on the outskirts of the Daesh-held Mosul province in Northern Iraq to train Iraqi forces, while Baghdad demanded the withdrawal of soldiers. Last week on Sunday, Iraq gave Turkey a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw the forces or face "all available options."

Turkey said the 150 soldiers and up to 25 tanks were stationed at Bashiqa to protect servicemen training Iraqi volunteers to fight Daesh.

The training mission has been in operation since March and is not assigned combat duties.