New York:Iraq and T¼rkiye have reached an agreement to end the Turkish military presence at the Bashiqa-Zilkan base in northern Iraq. The handover to the Iraqi federal government will occur gradually under an agreed-upon mechanism and timetable.

According to Emirates News Agency, the decision was announced in a joint statement following discussions between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The statement also mentioned an agreement to enhance security cooperation between the two nations across various fields. Additionally, both countries have committed to establishing Iraqi state authority in Sinjar, located in the Nineveh Governorate, and to eliminate the presence of unauthorized foreign armed groups in the area.

Progress made by Iraq through security measures has facilitated the planned handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan base. Beyond security, Iraq and T¼rkiye have also agreed to expand their bilateral trade and investment. This includes the immediate implementation of previously signed agreements and the acceleration of joint strategic projects.