Iraq: Turkish aggression endangers national security, regional stability

The Iraqi National Security Council has denounced a recent deadly drone strike by Turkey on the Arab country as a violation of good neighborly principles, saying the aggression poses a threat to Iraq’s national security as well as regional stability.

In a statement carried by al-Sumaria TV network on Wednesday, the Council said it discussed the Turkish attack during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

It strongly condemned “the Turkish aggression on Iraqi lands and the targeting of Iraqi commanders.”

“This act is a major breach of all standards for dealings between countries, good neighborly relations, and a major threat to the Iraqi national security and the stability of the region,” it added. “Iraq will exercise all means to defend its security and protect its citizens, including diplomatic messages.”

The Council also announced that the government had decided to cancel the visit of the Turkish defense minister and another Turkish delegation to Baghdad.

It further urged the Iraqi Foreign Ministry to coordinate with the international and Arab communities to condemn such an offensive and take necessary measures.

On Tuesday, a Turkish drone bombed a military vehicle of the Iraqi border guards in the Sidekan area of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Two border guard commanders and their driver were killed in the raid, the army said in a statement, marking the first Iraqi troop deaths since Turkey launched the cross-border operation in mid-June against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants.

ME