BAGHDAD – Iraq has requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council over the presence of unauthorized Turkish troops in northern Iraq.
The troops, which are training anti-Islamic State fighters near the Iraqi city of Mosul, have caused a spike in tensions between the two neighbours.
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Iraqi state TV reported on Thursday that the Foreign Ministry has asked the council to “shoulder its responsibility” and “intensify international support” ahead a major Iraqi military operation to take back Mosul from Islamic State militants.
READ MORE: Iraqis burn Turkey flag protesting troop ‘occupation’ in the north
Relations between Iraq and Turkey have become strained since late last year when Turkey sent troops to the region of Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul to train anti-IS fighters there.
Baghdad considers this a “blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and has demanded Turkish withdrawal, a call Ankara has ignored.
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