Turkish military have withdrawn some of its troops from Iraq

People take to the streets in Baghdad in anger at the Turkish incursion

Turkish military have  withdrawn some of their troops just days after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that withdrawal was “out of the question” and that the troops mission would be limited

Turkish Prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu has been quoted as saying that some Turkish troops have been withdrawn as part of a “rearrangement” and that it was a “military necessity” days after the Turkish President said there would not be a withdrawal of any troops from Iraqi territory.

This incursion into Iraq is against international law and is in breach of Iraq’s sovereignty. Appeals were made just days ago to the UN to order a withdrawal of Turkish troops from Iraqi territory with immediate effect. “We call on the Security Council to demand that Turkey withdraw its forces immediately … and not to violate Iraqi sovereignty again,” Prime Minister Al-Abadi said in a letter to Samantha power who is currently the President of the UN Security Council.

Mr Al-Abadi also made it clear that there was no need for any foreign forces to fight on its territory against Daesh (IS/ISIL). Thousands of ordinary Iraqi’s took to the streets in Baghdad  on Thursday in anger at the military incursion into their country by Turkey. There has been very little condemnation of Ankara’s actions.

Gerard Dinnen