Baghdad and Erbil agreement; The objectives of the deployment of Baghdad-affiliated forces on the Turkish border

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, for the first time in 30 Last year, Iraqi forces affiliated with the “Marzbani” unit of the “Union Police” were deployed in the northern borders of this country in the “Dahuk” province. Dohuk province is a part of the Kurdistan Region that was under the control of the Kurdish Peshmerga affiliated to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) since 1991 and the announcement of the no-fly law in Iraq. With the drafting of the new constitution of Iraq in 2005, this province was officially called a part of the Iraqi Kurdistan region (centered in Erbil). It was in the possession of the military force affiliated to the Barzanis. Even in 2017, after restoring the national sovereignty (federal government) to Kirkuk and emphasizing the handing over of the borders to the federal government, this was not achieved in the northern borders, especially in Dohuk province!

Meanwhile, an informed source stated: “The region where the forces affiliated with the central government are stationed have been left alone for a long time and the way was practically open for any illegal activities.” “Turkey, starting its operations last year, used to send a part of its forces deep into the territory of Syria.” Expeditionary forces are subordinate to the “Federal Police” organization; While the Iraqi army is present side by side with the union police in the general borders of Iraq. The most important difference between these two military organizations is that the army is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense, but the Union Police is under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior. He is considered a person close to Turkey. This issue has caused some people to attribute the dispatch of the union police to the internal equations of Baghdad and even resistance; So that Baghdad is trying to play a greater role in the middle of the conflict between Ankara and the PKK.

Turkey has carried out several operations in northern Iraq in the name of fighting the PKK in the last two years, and even military bases He has built several bases in Iraq, one of which was located in the “Bashiqa” region of Nineveh province, and the rest of the bases are located in Kurdistan Region.

However, despite the passage of nearly two years and The construction of dozens of military bases, PKK movement still continues in the mountains of northern Iraq. Turkey wanted to start a large-scale ground operation in four stages, which was opposed by Baghdad and Erbil, and now it is said that Baghdad wants to deploy its subordinate forces in the northern borders of Iraq in order to have more power to act in the conflict between the PKK and Ankara. .

Najirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, said in his last interview about the movements of the PKK in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: “They have created a big crisis in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.” But it should be emphasized that the PKK does not have any significant position in the official structure of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.” He talks about his activities in the south of Turkey. In other words, they have turned the territory of the Kurdistan region of Iraq into their support and logistics obstacle in the south of Turkey. But we are absolutely firm and determined in our position that the Kurdistan Region [Iraq] should not be a source of threat to our neighbors; Neither Turkey nor Iran.”

In the end, it should be said that the presence of Baghdad’s military forces in the borders of Dohuk province is a new event that has no history in the last three decades. From this point of view, this great event should be taken into consideration.

Author: Alireza Majidi, expert on West Asian issues

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