WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US vice president stressed in the conversation with his Turkish counterpart that any foreign military presence in Iraq must be approved by the Iraq government, according to the White House.
“The Vice President welcomed reports of the withdrawal of Turkish troops out of Camp Bashiqa as an important step to de-escalate recent tensions,” the release said.
Earlier on Monday, NTV news channel reported that 10 Turkish military vehicles had left the Bashik camp near the city of Mosul and were heading toward the Turkish border.
On December 4, Turkey deployed about 150 troops and 25 tanks to a base in the Iraqi Nineveh province, without Baghdad’s approval.
On Saturday, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said it had officially filed a complaint with the UN Security Council, calling on the United Nations to ensure an immediate withdrawal of the Turkish forces from its country's territory.
