Qais al-Khazali, Secretary-General of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, has accused Turkey of attempting to replicate its Syria strategy in Iraq by creating and funding armed groups.

Turkey’s Alleged Role in Armed Groups

In a statement, Khazali claimed that Turkey has transferred thousands of Iraqis and established two paramilitary forces, the Nineveh Defense Force and the Kirkuk Shield. He warned that Turkey aims to use these groups to create instability, paving the way for direct intervention in Iraq, similar to its actions in Syria.

“What I am saying is not analysis—it is verified information from Iraqi security and intelligence forces,” Khazali stated. “Turkey has trained, funded, and continues to pay salaries to these forces, selecting fighters from Nineveh and Kirkuk and sending them to Turkey for training.”

According to Khazali, some of these fighters have since been integrated into Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), specifically the 59th Brigade in Nineveh, while others remain near Turkey’s Zilkan military base in Bashiqa, tasked with protecting Turkish forces stationed there.

Call to Action Against Turkish Presence

Khazali called on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and all political factions, including Sunni and Kurdish forces, to take decisive action against Turkey’s military presence in Iraq.

“The continued presence of Turkish forces in Bashiqa is a direct violation of Iraqi sovereignty,” he warned. “If this situation is not addressed, it will lead to the division of Iraq’s territory, just as Turkey has done in Syria.”

Khazali urged Iraqi authorities to investigate Turkish-backed forces operating within the country and prevent further external interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.