Middle East

Turkmen in Iraq's Kirkuk concerned by US troop presence

US forces have been deployed at K1 military base south of Kirkuk for last 7 months, according to Iraqi-Turkmen MP

06.12.2017 - Update : 06.12.2017
Turkmen in Iraq's Kirkuk concerned by US troop presence BAGHDAD, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 27: Deputy President of the Iraqi Turkmen Front Hasan Turan (2 L) speaks during a press conference on Iraqi President Fuad Masum (not seen) at Parliament in Baghdad, Iraq on November 27, 2017. ( Murtadha Sudani - Anadolu Agency )

KIRKUK, Iraq

Members of Kirkuk's Turkmen community are deeply concerned about the U.S. presence in the city, an Iraqi-Turkmen politician has said.

“Our main concern is that U.S. forces [deployed in the city] will be unable to maintain neutrality as they have in the past and [in the event of a dispute] will side with Kurdish political groups,” Hasan Turan, a lawmaker for the Iraqi Turkmen Front, told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.

Noting that U.S. forces had maintained a presence at the K1 military base south of Kirkuk for the last seven months, Turan said that Turkmen residents of the area expected U.S. forces to support the Iraqi armed forces -- not Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

"We support U.S. forces in Kirkuk with the expectation that they will side with their Iraqi counterparts in the fight against terrorism,” he added.

“But we won’t allow Peshmerga forces -- or other Kurdish security forces -- to reassume control of the city," the Turkmen MP asserted.

He went on to stress that the security situation in Kirkuk had improved dramatically since Iraqi federal forces took control of the city in mid-October.

''Kirkuk has been secured by the Iraqi ministries of defense and interior. There is no need for the deployment of foreign military forces,” Turan said.

Iraqi federal forces moved into several parts of the country “disputed” between Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) -- including the oil-rich Kirkuk province -- following the KRG’s illegitimate Sept. 25 referendum on regional independence.

Reporting by Ali Mukarrem Garip:Writing by Sibel Ugurlu

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
Related topics
Bu haberi paylaşın