Iraq and Türkiye Agree on Gradual Handover of Bashiqa Military Camp to Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iraq and Türkiye have agreed to begin the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan military camp to the Iraqi federal government and strengthen joint security coordination to oversee efforts to end the presence of armed groups in Sinjar, according to an official statement issued Sunday.

The agreement was reached during a meeting of the two countries' joint higher committee, which discussed outstanding issues between Baghdad and Ankara, the Security Media Cell at the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces said on Saturday.

Under the agreement, Türkiye affirmed its commitment to begin taking the necessary steps toward gradually transferring the Bashiqa/Zilkan camp to the Iraqi federal government, in accordance with an understanding reached between the two countries' leaders on Sept. 23, 2026.

Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing measures taken by Iraqi authorities to establish full state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of armed groups in the district.

The two countries also agreed to reactivate the Joint Security Coordination Committee, which will jointly monitor and supervise the process underway in Sinjar to end the presence of armed groups.

The mechanism is intended to ensure coordination between Iraqi and Turkish authorities as Baghdad implements measures to consolidate government control over the district.

Sinjar and the challenge of restoring state authority

Sinjar, in western Nineveh province near the Syrian border, has remained a sensitive security issue since the Islamic State (ISIS) overran the district in August 2014, committing mass atrocities against the Ezidi population.

Although the area was later liberated, multiple armed formations maintained a presence there, complicating efforts to restore unified government administration. Among them are the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a predominantly Ezidi armed formation linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Baghdad has sought to bring armed formations under state command, while Türkiye has repeatedly raised concerns about the PKK's presence in northern Iraq, making Sinjar a central issue in bilateral security discussions.

Bashiqa camp: A longstanding dispute

The planned handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan camp addresses another longstanding point of contention between Baghdad and Ankara.

Türkiye established the military installation near Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul, in 2015, during the campaign against ISIS. Its presence, however, became a source of tension, with Baghdad repeatedly demanding the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Iraqi territory.

The September 23, 2026, understanding between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked a step toward resolving the dispute, with both sides agreeing on a gradual transfer of the camp to Iraqi federal control.

The latest agreement provides a further framework for implementing that understanding, linking the camp's handover with security coordination and efforts to end the presence of armed groups operating outside the Iraqi state's authority.

Although the announcement did not specify a completion date for the handover or provide details of the operational arrangements, it signals continued efforts by Baghdad and Ankara to address sensitive security issues through bilateral cooperation.

The developments also carry broader implications for Iraq-Türkiye relations, as both governments seek to strengthen border security, address the PKK issue, and advance wider economic cooperation and strategic infrastructure projects.

The central challenge remains translating these agreements into lasting security arrangements that allow Iraqi state institutions to exercise effective authority across Sinjar and other disputed security areas.