Iraq to Turkey: Meddling will result in prolonged regional conflict
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has warned Turkey that meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs will only result in a prolonged conflict in the region.
Abadi made the remarks during a meeting with high-ranking commanders of the Popular Mobilization Units on Wednesday.
The Popular Mobilization Units, allied with the Iraqi army, have been an efficient force in attempts to retake areas from the Daesh Takfiri terrorists who have mounted an offensive in the country.
Abadi stressed that Baghdad was harboring serious concerns over Ankara’s intended plans for the country’s second-largest city of Mosul, adding that any interference in the northern city would result in an extended and bloody war in the region.
In early December 2015, Turkey deployed a contingent of its troops to the Bashiqa military camp north of Mosul, claiming that the move had been earlier coordinated with Iraqi officials. Baghdad swiftly denied the claim and called on Ankara to immediately withdraw its forces from the camp.
Mosul fell into the hands of the Takfiris in June 2014, when they began their terror campaign in Iraq.
He added that due to the leak of military information by some Iraqi MPs, the announced plans to liberate the city had undergone certain changes.
On Sunday, Abadi vowed the liberation of the Daesh stronghold of Mosul in the near future. “We will raise the Iraqi flag in Mosul soon," he added.
Foreign Ministry slams Saudi meddling
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned Saudi Arabia for its repeated meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
In a statement released early on Thursday, the ministry stressed that Riyadh is trying to project its internal crises onto the Middle East by interfering in Baghdad’s affairs.
It called on Riyadh to stop its nationals from joining Daesh, and dismissed calls by the Arab kingdom to disarm the Popular Mobilization forces.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry added that the volunteer forces are a key proponent in the battle against terrorism in the war-torn country, and that they will continue their operations to purge Iraq from the scourge of terrorism.
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