Statement by Davutoğlu on Mosul

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said, ““We did what needed to be done” as to  Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) soldiers being retreated from Mosul in Iraq.

In the beginning of December, Siirt 3rd Commando Brigadier soldiers and 25 tanks were referred to Bashiqa camp, located 13 kilometers from Mosul. News of these soldiers withdrawing from the camp reflected on media today (December 15).

CLICK - WHY TURKEY SENDS TROOPS TO MOSUL?

PM Davutoğlu speaking as to the matter said the following on A Haber (A News) TV channel:

“We have always done whatever the military necessities require. We mobilized forces for military threat. We have taken necessary steps for ‘redrafting’ considering military and security threats. What is meant by redrafting is to send reinforcements in case of a threat.

“There is an illegitimate structure with no power in Syria. Throughout the whole Syrian border, the part which Syria controls is quite marginal. There is on the other hand legitimacy in Iraq but there is an administration that is not powerful enough to control its border. In this respect, we have adopted different attitudes against the threats posed by Syrian and Iraqi borders to us”.

“A necessity has shown up regarding intel shared by our intelligence units as to Bashiqa camp. Thus, a transfer of military forces to protect our education officers took place in there. Our education officers are not present there as combatants. They are trying to increase fighting potential of Mosul residents, Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens in their fight against DEAŞ (ISIS-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). Reinforcements are there to protect those forces. Some reactions by Iraqi administration are actually some practices of third players acting on behalf of Iraqi administration and international public. They tried to reflect our redrafting as an intervention in Iraq’s sovereignty”.  (ÇT/TK)