3000 Turkish-trained Iraqis in Mosul Operation: Turkey
Kurtulmus's remarks came shortly after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements among which he labeled the Iraqi Army as a Shia force.
ANKARA, Turkey (Kurdistan24) - Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmas on Monday announced about three thousand Turkey-trained Sunni Arab fighters were taking part in the operation to capture the Islamic State (IS)-held Iraqi city of Mosul.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting Kurtulmus revealed that the fighters he called "Mujahideen of Nineveh" were acting in coordination with Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga Forces, reported Kurdistan24 bureau in Ankara.
The Iraqi Army launched an early morning offensive to liberate Mosul with the help of an initial push by Peshmerga and the United State-led Coalition to secure the IS stronghold.
There was no confirmation by Kurdish officials at the time of publishing this report.
Saying that Turkey had no intention of withdrawing its troops in Iraq from a base just 10 miles away from Mosul in Nineveh Province, Kurtulmus stated that his country suggested the participation of only local people from the city.
Kurtulmus's remarks came shortly after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements among which he labeled the Iraqi Army a Shia force.
Mosul has been under IS control since mid-2014 when the army withdrew.
The majority-Sunni Muslim, constitutionally-secular Turkey's rulers are wary of Iraq's Shia-Sunni sectarian strife that they fear will inflame with the fall of Mosul to Iranian-backed militias such as Hashd Shaabi.
Turkey blames sectarianism on the Iraqi Government as it insists on having a more active role in the liberation of Mosul and its fate aftermath.
"Let no one take advantage of the current disorder to make gains in their sectarian and ethnic policies. The Mosul issue in one that we follow up with importance and care," said Kurtulmus who restated Erdogan's weekend revelation that Turkey had "B and C plans" for its role in Iraq and Syria.
Kurtulmus also in the plan was Turkey's intention to capture the Kurdish-held Syrian town of Manbij, that People's Protection Units liberated from IS last August.
BARZANI: AN ISSUE FOR TURKS AND IRAQIS TO RESOLVE
Meanwhile, the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani said the issue of Turkish military presence in Iraq and its participation in the Mosul operation was an issue between Ankara and Baghdad, and it was up to them to reach an understanding in that regard.
Barzani was holding a press conference in the Khazer front east of Mosul where he said 200 kilometer squares were liberated.
Editing by Ava Homa