This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/24/fears-battle-for-mosul-open-new-front-wider-sunni-shia-conflict-iraq-turkey

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fears battle for Mosul could open new front in wider Sunni-Shia conflict Fears battle for Mosul could open new front in wider Sunni-Shia conflict
(35 minutes later)
The risk that military operations to expel Islamic State terrorists from Mosul in northern Iraq could morph into a new frontline in the wider conflict between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam has intensified with Turkey’s disputed entry into the fray.The risk that military operations to expel Islamic State terrorists from Mosul in northern Iraq could morph into a new frontline in the wider conflict between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam has intensified with Turkey’s disputed entry into the fray.
Binali Yıldırım, Turkey’s prime minister, confirmed reports that Turkish troops based in the contested Bashiqa area outside Mosul were firing on Isis positions with artillery, tanks and howitzers. Yildirim said the bombardment followed a request from Kurdish peshmerga forces. Binali Yıldırım, Turkey’s prime minister, confirmed reports that Turkish troops based in the contested Bashiqa area outside Mosul were firing on Isis positions with artillery, tanks and howitzers. Yıldırım said the bombardment followed a request from Kurdish peshmerga forces.
But Iraq’s joint operations command flatly denied Turkish involvement. “[Iraq] denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh,” it said on Monday, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital.But Iraq’s joint operations command flatly denied Turkish involvement. “[Iraq] denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh,” it said on Monday, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital.
Iraq’s obfuscation reflects deep anxiety in Baghdad about predominantly Sunni Muslim Turkey’s intentions. The Shia-led, Iranian-backed government of Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, is under pressure not to tolerate the presence on Iraqi soil of troops from a country alleged to have previously aided the Sunni jihadists of Isis. Iraq’s obfuscation reflects deep anxiety in Baghdad about predominantly Sunni Muslim Turkey’s intentions. The Shia-led, Iranian-backed government of Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, is under pressure not to tolerate the presence on Iraqi soil of troops from a country alleged to have previously aided the Sunni jihadis of Isis.
Turkey’s longer-term motives have also been questioned. Hard-line Turkish nationalists, whose influence has grown in reaction to last July’s failed army coup attempt, continue to uphold Turkey’s historical claim to Mosul and Kirkuk and other areas of northern Iraq formerly controlled by the Ottoman empire. Turkey’s longer-term motives have also been questioned. Hardline Turkish nationalists, whose influence has grown in reaction to last July’s failed army coup attempt, continue to uphold Turkey’s historical claim to Mosul and Kirkuk and other areas of northern Iraq formerly controlled by the Ottoman empire.
Turkey’s plan, revealed by foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, to create a refugee safe haven in northern Iraq if needed by the mostly Sunni residents of Mosul, is exacerbating Abadi’s insecurities.Turkey’s plan, revealed by foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, to create a refugee safe haven in northern Iraq if needed by the mostly Sunni residents of Mosul, is exacerbating Abadi’s insecurities.
Enhanced cooperation between the breakaway, autonomous Kurdish regional government and Turkey is seen as undermining Iraq’s national cohesion. “The Iraqi Kurdish administration is aware of the importance for cooperation on this matter and they are ready to work with Ankara,” said Yıldırım.Enhanced cooperation between the breakaway, autonomous Kurdish regional government and Turkey is seen as undermining Iraq’s national cohesion. “The Iraqi Kurdish administration is aware of the importance for cooperation on this matter and they are ready to work with Ankara,” said Yıldırım.
“We have troops both near Irbil and on the Iraqi side of the Hakkari-Şırnak border region. There are special units deployed there.”“We have troops both near Irbil and on the Iraqi side of the Hakkari-Şırnak border region. There are special units deployed there.”
The alliance may prove both expedient and temporary. Yildirim admitted Ankara’s motives were not straightforward. The safe haven was also intended to deny space to Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) separatist fighters pursuing an insurgency in south-east Turkey, he said, adding: “What we have done in Syria, will be done in Iraq.” The alliance may prove both expedient and temporary. Yıldırım admitted Ankara’s motives were not straightforward. The safe haven was also intended to deny space to Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) separatist fighters pursuing an insurgency in south-east Turkey, he said, adding: “What we have done in Syria, will be done in Iraq.”
“Declaring a safe haven in the region is required and desired... because there is a common threat, the PKK, which is a threat to both Turkey and northern Iraq,” he said. “Declaring a safe haven in the region is required and desired … because there is a common threat, the PKK, which is a threat to both Turkey and northern Iraq,” he said.
Turkey’s keen desire to be involved in the battle for Mosul stems in part from concerns that Iraqi army forces surrounding the city largely comprise southern Shia units. Previous experiences of Shia militias “liberating” Sunni towns such as Fallujah and Ramadi have led to accusations of sectarian atrocities. Turkey’s keen desire to be involved in the battle for Mosul stems in part from concerns that Iraqi army forces surrounding the city largely comprise southern Shia units. Previous experiences of Shia militias “liberating” Sunni towns such as Falluja and Ramadi have led to accusations of sectarian atrocities.
According to Hasan Koni, a regional analyst speaking to the newspaper Hurriyet, Ankara wants to increase its leverage as it contemplates the regional endgame, once Isis is vanquished and the struggle to depose Syria’s Alawite president, Bashar al-Assad, is resolved, one way or the other.According to Hasan Koni, a regional analyst speaking to the newspaper Hurriyet, Ankara wants to increase its leverage as it contemplates the regional endgame, once Isis is vanquished and the struggle to depose Syria’s Alawite president, Bashar al-Assad, is resolved, one way or the other.
“There is a perception that the Middle East is being redesigned and that Iraq and Syria’s territorial integrity and unity will be compromised. With Russia supporting Syria and Iran having become so involved in Iraq, there is a feeling of “how can we benefit from the situation. Can we get a share?’” Koni said. “There is a perception that the Middle East is being redesigned and that Iraq and Syria’s territorial integrity and unity will be compromised. With Russia supporting Syria and Iran having become so involved in Iraq, there is a feeling of ‘how can we benefit from the situation. Can we get a share?’” Koni said.
Another factor was oil, he said. “Why Mosul? It is because of the oil. They [Turks] look at the riches of the Saudis ... From the 2000s on, the feeling of ‘we could have been the leader of the Sunnis if we had oil’ started to develop.” Another factor was oil, he said. “Why Mosul? It is because of the oil. They [Turks] look at the riches of the Saudis … From the 2000s on, the feeling of ‘we could have been the leader of the Sunnis if we had oil’ started to develop.”
Treading a fine line between the US, which has encouraged its involvement, and Russia, the biggest military player in Syria with which it clashed last year, Turkey stresses its ground forces will not join the battle for Mosul. The Turkish role will be restricted to air, artillery and special forces support. “It is out of the question for Turkey or other countries to join in the land operation,” Çavuşoğlu said.Treading a fine line between the US, which has encouraged its involvement, and Russia, the biggest military player in Syria with which it clashed last year, Turkey stresses its ground forces will not join the battle for Mosul. The Turkish role will be restricted to air, artillery and special forces support. “It is out of the question for Turkey or other countries to join in the land operation,” Çavuşoğlu said.
But Abadi is adamant he does not want Ankara’s help: “I know that the Turks want to participate ... We tell them: Thank you, this is something the Iraqis will handle and the Iraqis will liberate Mosul.” But Abadi is adamant he does not want Ankara’s help: “I know that the Turks want to participate … We tell them: Thank you, this is something the Iraqis will handle and the Iraqis will liberate Mosul.”