Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Monday reiterated his country’s rejection of Turkey’s cross-border aggressions in the Iraqi territories following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan as Turkey’s new imminent offensive against the Kurdish rival militants loom large.
“Iraq rejects Iraqi territory being a launching pad for aggression or threats to neighboring countries,” Rashid said according to a press release from the Iraqi Presidency.
“We also reject any attack or violation against Iraqi cities, stressing the necessity of respecting Iraq’s sovereignty and national security,” he remarked, as Erdogan is on a one-day visit to the country to discuss mutual topics covering energy, security, a muti-mullion Road Development mega-project, water management issues.
Turkey is to wrap up its current cross-border Operation Claw-Lock in the summer, which was launched about two years ago against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the mountainous areas of Duhok’s Metina, Zap, Avashin, and Basyan.
Since 2019, Turkey has launched several anti-PKK operations and established dozens of outposts in the Kurdistan’s borders.
Last month, the Turkish leader stated that Ankara is nearing the completion of a zone that aims to permanently address the security concerns along its border with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
