Iraqi government orders deployment of border guards on Iraq-Turkey border

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi government has decided to deploy guards on the border between Iraq and Turkey to prevent any breaches from happening, a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi chaired a meeting in Baghdad of the Ministerial Council for National Security to discuss security and stability within the country and on its border.

In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministerial Council issued several orders including the deployment of border guards across Iraq’s border with Turkey ”to prevent any violations.”

It also noted that all the requirements to protect the border would be provided.

“The Foreign Ministry will take the necessary measures to document the Turkish violations of Iraqi airspace to the United Nations,” the statement added.

Reviewing the structure of the Iraqi Federal Police and approving the security memorandum of understanding between Iraq and Hungary’s interior ministries were among other decision the Ministerial Council made.

In the past months, Turkey has stepped up airstrikes against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and has threatened to launch a military operation in the Qandil Mountains with its troops making incursions in the Kurdistan Region.

Turkish bombardment of the vast border areas of Turkey, Iran, and the Kurdistan Region have become commonplace since the peace process between Turkey, and the PKK broke down in July 2015.

The PKK, now headquartered in Kurdistan’s Qandil Mountains, took up arms against Ankara in the 1980s to demand more rights for the Kurds in a conflict that has killed thousands of people on both sides.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany