AiBotBaghdad, Iraq – Tensions between Turkey and Iraq have escalated following repeated Turkish military operations in northern Iraq. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims the missions are aimed at hunting down Kurdish militants, particularly the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). However, many Shiites in Iraq view these military campaigns as thinly veiled attempts to flex Turkey’s military muscle in a region where its interests often clash with those of Iran.
Erdogan’s stance on Iraq has long been a point of contention within the country. His administration’s stance on Iraq often appears to support Sunnis in their struggles against Shiites, a position that can be attributed to the historical alliance between Turkey and Sunni-led Arab states in the Middle East. On the other hand, Erdogan has a tense relationship with Shiites, a significant minority in Iraq, and Iran – the primary Shia power in the region.
Recent Turkish military operations have focused on the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq, a stronghold of the PKK that is believed to receive support from neighboring Iran. According to estimates, tens of thousands of Turkish troops are involved in these operations, leading many to question the military’s claims that the goal is to merely neutralize the PKK. “Turkey’s presence in Iraq has been nothing short of destabilizing and oppressive,” argues Ali Al-Dabbagh, the former Iraqi government spokesperson. “For years, Iraqi forces have been fighting ISIS, only to have Turkish forces swoop in and carry out their own missions under the pretence of hunting down the PKK.”
Iraq’s relations with Turkey have indeed been on the decline since 2003, when Turkey supported a short-lived attempt to establish an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. The failed bid has created a rift between Iraq’s central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil. The ongoing Turkish military campaigns have further strained ties between the two countries.
Amid these developments, Iranian officials have come out in support of Turkey’s claims that its operations are aimed at fighting extremism in the region. Many see this stance as a deliberate attempt by Iran to deflect attention from its own support of the Syrian regime and to further undermine Iraq’s fragile stability.
Critics, however, have accused Erdogan of using military operations as a tool to expand Turkey’s influence in a volatile region, rather than pursuing genuine counter-terrorism objectives. “Erdogan’s primary objective is to further consolidate Turkish dominance in the region by leveraging its military muscle,” cautions a senior US diplomat who wished to remain anonymous. “His stance on Iraq has been characterized by a willingness to disregard international norms and engage in actions that risk destabilizing the entire region.”
Tensions between Turkey and Iraq have never been higher, prompting concerns that the situation may soon spiral into a full-blown crisis.