Turkey and Iraq Agree on Phased Handover of Bashiqa-Zilkan Base

Turkey and Iraq agreed on 23 September 2026 to transfer control of the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base to the Iraqi federal government in stages. The agreement was announced after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.

The joint statement said the transfer would follow an agreed mechanism and timetable, alongside Iraq’s security measures in Shingal. It gave no date for the start or completion of the handover, and Turkish troops’ withdrawal schedule has not been announced.

The two governments also agreed to restore full Iraqi state authority in Shingal and end the presence of foreign armed groups prohibited by the Iraqi state. They said they would deepen security cooperation.

On 26 September, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara would gradually reduce and ultimately end its presence at Bashiqa as Baghdad implements its plan to disarm armed groups. His remarks reinforced the link between the base handover and Iraq’s security actions in Shingal.

The agreement follows an announcement by the Iraqi government earlier in September that the Shingal Resistance Units (YBŞ) would begin handing their weapons to the state. Fighters who meet the required conditions may be integrated into Iraqi security forces. Turkey regards the YBŞ as a security threat because of its alleged ties to the PKK.

The Bashiqa base has been a longstanding point of dispute between Baghdad and Ankara. Turkey established its military presence there in 2015, saying it was supporting operations against ISIS and assisting local security forces. Iraq has repeatedly called for Turkish forces to withdraw, arguing that their presence violates Iraqi sovereignty.

The United States’ planned withdrawal from Iraq provides wider context for the agreement. US officials have said the remaining American forces in northern Iraq are expected to leave by 30 September 2026. That withdrawal is separate from the Turkish-Iraqi agreement, which has no publicly announced completion date.

Key details of the Bashiqa handover remain unclear, including when it will begin, how long it will take and what arrangements will follow for security in Shingal. The agreement also leaves open how Ezidi representatives will take part in decisions affecting the area and how the security needs of the Ezidi people will be addressed.

Turkey and Iraq have presented the agreement as part of closer security cooperation. Its implementation will determine how control of the base changes and how the associated security arrangements affect Shingal.