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Turkey troops in Iraq to complicate fight against Daesh: Activist

Thursday, 10 December 2015 6:22 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 10 December 2015 6:23 AM ]

Turkish soldiers take cover in front of a barricade during clashes with Kurdish militants in Silvan, southeastern Turkey, on November 13, 2015. (AFP photo)

Press TV has conducted an interview with Sa'ad al-Muttalibi, a member of the State of Law Coalition in Baghdad, and Bob Ayers, former US intelligence officer in Somerset, to discuss Turkey’s deployment of troops to northern Iraq.

Muttalibi states the presence of Turkish forces in Iraq will “complicate” the battle against the Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

He also maintains Turkey has been violating the airspace of Iraq over claims that it is fighting Daesh, but in reality it has always been striking PKK positions.

“And now actually sending troops with tanks and heavy artillery, that is different from having airstrikes. So now they [Turkey] have actually boots on the ground and that is a very sensitive issue and we think that could enrage the area because now other countries will want to have boots on the ground here in Iraq,” he says.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Muttalibi notes that Iraq seeks to ask the United Nations Security Council to issue legislation that will force Turkey to withdraw its troops.

The activist further said the Iraqi army has been “re-organized” and is capable of defeating the Daesh terrorist group, adding that the country does not need any extra boots on the ground.

Ayers, for his part, believes Turkey has crossed the Iraqi border as a “self-defense mechanism” because the central government of Iraq has failed to control the northern areas of the country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk