Turkey is supporting Iraqi attempts to combat ISIS threats to Kirkuk, other regions

Turkey has interests in Kirkuk and the city of Tal Afar. The Turkish Ministry of Defense said, “We welcome Iraq’s reinforcement of outposts and observation posts along the border."

Iraq is trying to increase security in its sensitive Kirkuk region. The Iraqi government appears concerned about ISIS threats in and around Kirkuk and Hawija. These threats appear to have increased in the last months. US forces withdrew from Iraq on September 30 as part of a deal between Baghdad and Washington. The US had been in Iraq with the anti-ISIS coalition. With the coalition now largely ending its role, the Iraqis have to step up.

On November 5 the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) said it captured “a notorious suspect from ISIS gangs in Kirkuk.” The ICTS put out a statement to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA). The Service announced that, "as part of its ongoing efforts to pursue the remnants of the terrorist ISIS gangs and track down their members, the heroes of the Counter-Terrorism Service have succeeded in capturing a suspect in Kirkuk Governorate."

ICTS is the country’s elite counter-terrorism force. It added that "the arrest was carried out based on a prior arrest warrant issued against him by the investigative judge responsible for Counter-Terrorism Service cases, and the necessary legal procedures have been taken in his regard." It says it will continue precision raids and “pursue the remnants of the terrorist ISIS gangs, thereby strengthening security and stability and safeguarding the safety of citizens."

Turkish support for Iraqi border security

Meanwhile, Turkey appears to be pleased with Iraq’s new border security. This matters. Turkey has interests in Kirkuk and the city of Tal Afar. “The Turkish Ministry of Defense welcomed, on Thursday, Iraq’s reinforcement of outposts and observation posts along the border, while affirming the continuation of security cooperation,” the INA noted. The Turkish Ministry of Defense said, “We welcome Iraq’s reinforcement of outposts and observation posts along the border, and we continue our security cooperation."

Turkey has been assisting and supporting Iraq. The US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, is also the US envoy to Syria and Iraq. As such, it makes sense that Turkey backs Iraq, while the US works to support stability in Iraq and Syria. These countries are all linked. Historically, they are linked as well.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense emphasized that Ankara continues to provide all forms of support to Iraq and says that “Turkey continues to cooperate with Iraq in the fields of defense and security."

Iraq is facing other challenges. The government says it recently detained three members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Al-Latifiyah, south of Baghdad. They were transporting 35 rockets of an unidentified type and two pistols, a security source told Shafaq News on Friday. This is concerning because the PMF has used 107mm and 122mm Iranian rockets in the past to target US diplomatic and military facilities.

In another development, Turkey has praised the possible reopening of the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline from Iraq to Syria. This is yet another reason for Iraq to keep Kirkuk secure.