Turkey troops near Mosul violating international law

They are there as part of routine training exercises.

“We have confirmation that Turkish forces, numbering about one armoured regiment with a number of tanks and artillery, entered Iraqi territory…” Baghdad stressed the unsanctioned move was a breach of its sovereignty, RT reports.

Iraq calls on Turkey to “immediately” withdraw forces, including tanks and artillery, it has deployed in the country’s north without Baghdad’s consent, the premier’s office said today.

According to the Reuters’ sources, the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition was aware of the Turkey’s move.

He said he was not aware of the size of the force and refused to speculate.

Previously, Turkish military advisers have come to the Kurdistan region to arm the Peshmerga, and they opened Turkish bases in several areas of the Kurdistan region, including Soran and Bamerne in Erbil, as well as Raniya and Qalachwalan in Sulaimani.

A small number of Turkish trainers was already at the camp to train a force called Hashid Watani (national mobilisation), which is made up of mainly Sunni Arab former Iraqi police and volunteers from Mosul.

“Our soldiers are already in Iraq”.

The peshmerga forces deployed in the Bashiqa area are loyal to Barzani’s party, which has close ties to Ankara.

Mosul has been under the control of ISIS since previous year.

It demanded that the soldiers – who were sent to provide training for Iraqi troops – withdraw immediately, describing their entry as a violation of its sovereignty. It was unclear how they viewed the presence of Turkish soldiers.

Al-Abadi reiterated that foreign ground combat troops were not needed in Iraq.