Iraq and Turkey have reached an agreement under which Turkish forces will gradually transfer control of the Bashiqa-Zelikan military base to the Iraqi federal government, according to a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office issued Wednesday. The deal was announced following a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Fallah Al-Zahidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York.

The handover is part of a broader effort by Baghdad to strengthen federal authority across the country, particularly in areas that have experienced prolonged instability since the rise of ISIS. The base, strategically located between Erbil and Dohuk overlooking the Nineveh Plains, has been a significant military outpost since Turkey established it during the fight against ISIS. Turkish forces have used the base to support Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and some Sunni Arab groups in the region.

Iraq’s government said the transfer would proceed according to an agreed timetable and mechanism, reflecting progress in national security management. This is occurring amidst ongoing moves by Baghdad to integrate and disarm armed factions operating in disputed or contested areas. Notably, the Yazidi YBS armed group has agreed to disarm and merge with Iraqi forces, while the Kurdish Peshmerga announced a unification of their forces this week.

The Bashiqa-Zelikan base’s handover also addresses a long-standing source of tension, as Turkey’s military presence in northern Iraq has been a point of contention with both Iraqi authorities and Iranian-backed militias. Those militias have linked their own disarmament commitments to the departure of Turkish troops. Ankara’s military deployments, including several bases in the mountains of the autonomous Kurdish region near Dohuk, have been justified by Turkey as necessary to counter the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group Turkey considers a terrorist organization. However, the Bashiqa base was distinct in function, supporting operations primarily against ISIS and monitoring areas such as Sinjar to prevent PKK or affiliated group incursions.

The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office emphasized that the agreement would reinforce Iraq’s sovereignty over Sinjar and other sensitive territories, where YBS forces had been active. The joint statement highlighted commitments from both sides to deepen bilateral security cooperation and to accelerate economic projects, including a strategic development road initiative.

This agreement comes as U.S. forces involved in the anti-ISIS coalition continue to withdraw from Iraq, creating a new phase in the country’s security landscape. Iraqi officials see the transfer of control over former conflict zones and the reintegration of armed groups as vital steps toward restoring national unity and stability in a region long shaped by complex geopolitical and sectarian dynamics. Turkey’s willingness to relinquish the Bashiqa-Zelikan base reflects ongoing efforts to normalize relations with Baghdad while managing its security concerns vis-à-vis the PKK and related entities.