Erdogan says Iraq backs Turkey’s push against Kurdish rebels

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday stated the relevant government in Baghdad supported Turkey’s present-day offensive against outlawed Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.

The Turkish chief’s remarks got here a day after Iraq summoned Turkey’s ambassador to Baghdad to carry a formal protest in opposition to Erdogan’s ultra-modern navy campaign.

Turkey’s armed forces have stated the death of two squaddies and dozens of Kurdish militants because of the launch Sunday of their  3rd offensive in northern Iraq in 2020.

Erdogan told a parliamentary meeting of his ruling party that both Baghdad and the leaders of the autonomous Kurdish region based in Erbil supported Turkey’s ground and air assault.

“I thank the central government in Iraq and the regional administration for their support to our fight against terror,” Erdogan said.

“I wish success for our heroic soldiers involved in this operation, which we are carrying out in close cooperation with the central Iraqi government and the regional administration in northern Iraq.”

Some analysts believe that Iraqi leaders — while lodging formal protests — are privately happy that Turkey is trying to punish fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Ankara and its Western allies.

The PKK has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

But the government in Baghdad is publicly voicing unpleasure over the Turkish military invasion into the mountains of northern Iraq.

Iraq handed the Turkish ambassador a “firmly-worded note of protest” urging its northern neighbor to “put an end to acts of provocation and unacceptable violations”, the foreign ministry stated  Tuesday.