Abadi: Turkey will pay 'heavy price' for unlawful entry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi recently stated Turkey would “pay a heavy price” for the unlawful entry of troops on Iraqi soil.

“If the Turkish leadership commits an adventure in Iraq, then they will pay a heavy price as their aggression will be met with the Iraqi national cohesion in response,” Abadi said.

“Iraq does not want to go into military confrontation with Turkey, but God forbid if a confrontation occurs, Turkey will pay a heavy price,” the PM threatened.

Moreover, he added Iraqis from all governorates would sacrifice their lives to protect their country.

On Wednesday, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu responded to Abadi’s comments.

“If you were powerful enough why did you hand over Mosul to the terrorist organizations?” Cavusoglu mocked.

“Turkey makes friendly remarks; however, the Iraqi Prime Minister makes provocative statements,” the Foreign Minister added.

During a meeting with the tribal leaders of Tala’afar in Nineveh province, the PM said Iraq would seek “improved relations” with neighbor’s Turkey.

Abadi added a war between Turkey and Iraq would be a loss for both countries.

In early December 2015, Turkey announced a military battalion had been deployed to a position close to the Islamic State-held city of Mosul.

Turkish authorities said the deployment of troops was part of a training mission. The incident eventually resulted in escalating problems between Iraq and Turkey.

The Iraqi government had requested the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss the presence of Turkish troops on Iraqi soil.

However, there has not been any meeting on that matter yet.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany