Will Turkiye end its military presence in northern Iraq?

Turkiye has agreed to gradually hand over a military base in Sinjar, northern Iraq, raising questions about the future of its broader military presence in the region. The move comes after years of Turkish military operations in northern Iraq targeting Kurdish militant groups.

The handover of the Sinjar base would mark a notable, if partial, step in reducing Turkiye's footprint in an area where its forces have maintained a presence for an extended period, often citing security concerns related to cross-border militant activity.

A gradual shift

Turkiye's military involvement in northern Iraq has long been a point of contention between Ankara and Baghdad, with Iraqi officials periodically calling for a full withdrawal of Turkish forces from Iraqi territory. The agreement to hand over the Sinjar base suggests a degree of diplomatic progress on this front, even as it remains unclear whether it signals a broader withdrawal.

Observers will be watching whether this handover leads to further reductions in Turkiye's military footprint elsewhere in northern Iraq, or whether its presence in other areas continues largely unchanged.