Iraq announced that the phased withdrawal of Turkish forces from the Bashiqa-Zelikan military camp in northern Nineveh province will begin this November.

Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, said the base is expected to be fully transferred to Iraqi security forces by the end of the year.

A joint Iraqi-Turkish security committee has begun its work to oversee the handover of the camp, the spokesman said.

Mr Al-Numan ‌noted that the committee’s activation stems from understandings reached between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in New York in September.

The announcement follows a joint statement issued by the two countries on Sunday, in which Ankara agreed to gradually transfer its Bashiqa-Zelikan military base to the Iraqi federal government.

The base in the Nineveh Plain has long been a point of contention between both countries.

Türkiye established a military presence there in 2015 to support operations against the terrorist group Islamic State, while Iraq has long viewed it as an infringement on its sovereignty. 

(Xinhua/NAN)