On May 3, local time, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Temporary Charge d’affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Iraq to submit a written protest to the Iraqi Government to express its dissatisfaction and condemnation of the Turkish military operations.
Turkey’s defense chief, Akar, recently met with Turkish troops who had entered the country illegally without coordination with the Iraqi side, and Turkey’s interior minister also said he wanted to build a permanent military base in northern Iraq. The Government of Iraq expressly rejects such violations of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial airspace.
On April 24, the Turkish armed forces began ground and air operations against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, firing F16 fighter jets, artillery, helicopters, drones and other weapons. According to a statement issued by the Turkish Ministry of Defence, the recent military operations in Iraq have killed 53 terrorists.
In recent years, the Turkish side has repeatedly entered Iraqi territory and airspace to launch strikes against Kurdish forces. The Government of Iraq has repeatedly expressed its opposition.
