What is happening in Mosul?
As the Middle East remains in hot water due to Russia's intervention in Syria, the continuation of the DAESH threat and Russia's maintenance of its cold policies on Turkey, a unit of Turkish troops which has been deployed to the Bashiqa camp near Mosul, has come under the spotlight. The Iraqi central government responded to the deployment of troops and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu reminded his Iraqi counterpart of the fact that Turkey respected Iraq's territorial integrity in a letter. Well, why has this operation been conducted? What is Turkey's ultimate purpose in Mosul and its surroundings? I asked an important source for answers to these questions.
First, it would be useful to clarify the number of Turkish troops deployed there, as there is information pollution going on. So far, a unit of between 350 and 400 soldiers and 18 tanks have been transferred to Mosul. Previously, a unit of between 80 and 100 soldiers was present there to mainly train the Sunni Arabs and some Turkmens. The aim is for this unit to be replaced by a larger one consisting of a total of between 600 and 800 soldiers.
Turkey wanted to carry out this change and transfer in a smaller number of soldiers in a quiet manner; however, exaggerated news reports in the media indicate that this is not possible. The intense claims being made by foreign media outlets that Ankara has landed troops in Mosul have disturbed the Iraqi government.
Well, what does Turkey aim for? Actually, it has several objectives. Firstly, Turkey has soldiers in different parts of Iraq. The ones who have recently been deployed -- 3,000 -- mean that Turkey has the third-highest number of soldiers in the country after the U.S. and Iran. In short, there were already Turkish soldiers on Iraqi territory and they play a major role in the training of on-site forces as a part of counterterrorism.
It appears that Turkey is aiming for several things while consolidating the military camp in Bashiqa. Firstly, it wants to cement positions against the Shiite alliance that is gaining strength in Iraq. Secondly, it wants to be more influential in negotiations with Iraq in order to avoid facing a fait accompli like in Syria. Also, it wants to undermine the relationship between the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria and the PKK in Iraq.
According to Mesut Hakkı Caşın, a foreign policy professor at Özyeğin University, one of the objectives is to prevent terrorists from crossing the border into Turkey by reducing the threat from both the PKK and neighboring Syria. Well, does Turkey go against international law by sending troops there? Caşin, who is a prominent specialist on the issue, says Turkey is not violating international law, considering that the Baghdad government is not dominant in the region, after all. International law stipulates that the security of borders should be ensured by countries who share those borders and since the Iraqi government is failing to do this, it is the responsibility of the Turkish military to ensure border security. Furthermore, the governor of and Masoud Barzani's administration were informed about the deployment of these troops. Caşın refutes the claims that Turkey violates Iraq's conterminous integrity, arguing that Turkey is a country that protects Syria and Iraq's borders the most.
Nevertheless, Turkey has suspended the transfer of troops for now because of the delicate balances in the Middle East and negative responses from the Iraqi prime minister and president. Ankara is hoping that the deadlock will be overcome and that the remaining troops and tanks will be sent to the Bashiqa camp during talks between the Iraqi government and Barzani. Turkey is one of the strongest countries in its region, which disturbs Iran: the leading player of the Shiite alliance. The Tehran administration is behind the response from the Iraqi government and its efforts to stop Turkey. This is known by Turkey and the West. So, the ongoing debate over the Bashiqa camp is a move made by the new Shiite-Moscow bloc that is led by Russia and aims to save Syrian President Bashar Assad. Turkey is consolidating its position, standing against this bloc and siding with the West, in a more resolute manner with each passing day.
First, it would be useful to clarify the number of Turkish troops deployed there, as there is information pollution going on. So far, a unit of between 350 and 400 soldiers and 18 tanks have been transferred to Mosul. Previously, a unit of between 80 and 100 soldiers was present there to mainly train the Sunni Arabs and some Turkmens. The aim is for this unit to be replaced by a larger one consisting of a total of between 600 and 800 soldiers.
Turkey wanted to carry out this change and transfer in a smaller number of soldiers in a quiet manner; however, exaggerated news reports in the media indicate that this is not possible. The intense claims being made by foreign media outlets that Ankara has landed troops in Mosul have disturbed the Iraqi government.
Well, what does Turkey aim for? Actually, it has several objectives. Firstly, Turkey has soldiers in different parts of Iraq. The ones who have recently been deployed -- 3,000 -- mean that Turkey has the third-highest number of soldiers in the country after the U.S. and Iran. In short, there were already Turkish soldiers on Iraqi territory and they play a major role in the training of on-site forces as a part of counterterrorism.
It appears that Turkey is aiming for several things while consolidating the military camp in Bashiqa. Firstly, it wants to cement positions against the Shiite alliance that is gaining strength in Iraq. Secondly, it wants to be more influential in negotiations with Iraq in order to avoid facing a fait accompli like in Syria. Also, it wants to undermine the relationship between the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria and the PKK in Iraq.
According to Mesut Hakkı Caşın, a foreign policy professor at Özyeğin University, one of the objectives is to prevent terrorists from crossing the border into Turkey by reducing the threat from both the PKK and neighboring Syria. Well, does Turkey go against international law by sending troops there? Caşin, who is a prominent specialist on the issue, says Turkey is not violating international law, considering that the Baghdad government is not dominant in the region, after all. International law stipulates that the security of borders should be ensured by countries who share those borders and since the Iraqi government is failing to do this, it is the responsibility of the Turkish military to ensure border security. Furthermore, the governor of and Masoud Barzani's administration were informed about the deployment of these troops. Caşın refutes the claims that Turkey violates Iraq's conterminous integrity, arguing that Turkey is a country that protects Syria and Iraq's borders the most.
Nevertheless, Turkey has suspended the transfer of troops for now because of the delicate balances in the Middle East and negative responses from the Iraqi prime minister and president. Ankara is hoping that the deadlock will be overcome and that the remaining troops and tanks will be sent to the Bashiqa camp during talks between the Iraqi government and Barzani. Turkey is one of the strongest countries in its region, which disturbs Iran: the leading player of the Shiite alliance. The Tehran administration is behind the response from the Iraqi government and its efforts to stop Turkey. This is known by Turkey and the West. So, the ongoing debate over the Bashiqa camp is a move made by the new Shiite-Moscow bloc that is led by Russia and aims to save Syrian President Bashar Assad. Turkey is consolidating its position, standing against this bloc and siding with the West, in a more resolute manner with each passing day.
Last Update: December 09, 2015 02:18