Iraqi PM Warns Turkey to not Enter Its Territory

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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said Baghdad doesn't want to fight Ankara, yet prepared for that. "We warn Turkey if they want to enter Iraq, they will end up becoming fragmented", said Abadi.

In the press meeting organized in Iraq's capital city of Baghdad, Abadi also spoke about Mosul operation and Turkey's military deployment to Şırnak's Silopi district located on Iraqi border.

According to Rudaw and Al Arabiya citing AFP, Abadi said:

"We do not want to fight Turkey. We do not want a confrontation with Turkey. God forbid, even if we engage in war with them, the Turks will pay a heavy price. They will be damaged. Yes, we too will be damaged, but whenever a country fights a neighboring country, there will be no winner, both will end up losing.

"We are not afraid of Turkey, but the aftermath of the emergence of a new war. We do not want that. We want reduction of the problems, not escalation.

"The Turks claim that there are many countries present in Iraq. True. These countries have come upon our call and they do not fight on the ground. But rather, they have sent their military personnel and advisors to train our forces. They have come to supply us with logistical needs and arms.

"Turkey and its forces will be damaged and we warn them again, if their troops enter Iraq we will fight them and we will look at them and treat them as the enemy".

Deployment to Iraqi border

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have deployed a large number of tanks and armored vehicles to the Iraqi border.

Minister of Defense Fikri Işık briefly said:

"Turkey has to take all kinds of precautions beforehand, this is a part of the preparations. Talks with Iraq are ongoing. Turkey has red lines and it will do what it has to do if these lines are crossed. No one can expect Turkey to be a mere spectator to unstability [in the region]. This is not a step taken against Iraq's territorial integrity". (AS/TK)