Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with Asaib Ahl al-Haq Secretary-General Qais al-Khazali at the movement’s headquarters in Baghdad to discuss regional developments and sovereignty issues, including the Turkish military presence in Iraq. Photo by Khazali’s office
Khazali, Sudani Call for Turkish Troop Withdrawal, Unified National Stance
BAGHDAD — Asaib Ahl al-Haq Secretary-General Qais al-Khazali and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani discussed the need to end the presence of Turkish military forces in Iraq during a meeting Sunday at the movement’s headquarters in Baghdad, according to a statement from Khazali’s office.
The statement said both sides agreed on “the need to end any violation of Iraqi sovereignty and to develop a unified national position that preserves rights and prevents interference,” referring specifically to Turkish forces operating inside Iraqi territory. The conversation followed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s announcement of its self-dissolution.
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, better known by its Kurdish acronym the PKK, on Monday declared its dissolution, stating it was halting its armed conflict with the Turkish state.
According to a recent investigation by the BBC, Turkey is estimated to have more than 130 military outposts inside northern Iraq, with several thousand troops deployed, primarily in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok governorate. These include both permanent bases and temporary positions used for operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Despite Baghdad’s objections, Ankara continues to justify its military presence as part of its campaign against the PKK, which has long used the rugged border areas as a base for launching attacks into Turkey.
Full statement by al-Khazali’s office:
The Secretary-General of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq Movement, Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, received Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Sunday at the movement’s headquarters in Baghdad.
At the beginning of the meeting, the two sides discussed ongoing preparations for hosting the 34th Arab Summit in the capital, Baghdad. Sheikh al-Khazali praised the government’s efforts and high-level preparations to ensure the success of this prominent Arab event, stressing that Iraq’s return to the forefront of joint Arab action represents a culmination of the path of balance and sovereignty adopted by the current government.
The meeting also addressed the latest political and security developments in the country, with a focus on ensuring internal stability and unifying positions in response to national challenges.
The discussion specifically included the issue of Turkish military presence inside Iraqi territory, especially in light of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announcement of its self-dissolution. Both sides emphasized the need to end any violation of Iraqi sovereignty and to develop a unified national stance that preserves rights and prevents interference.
The two parties affirmed the importance of strengthening national coordination among state institutions and political forces to ensure Iraq’s stability, safeguard its achievements, and fortify its sovereign decision-making in the face of regional and international challenges.