Türkiye, Iraq Reaffirm Push to Expel PKK From Sinjar
Ankara and Baghdad pledged to restore state authority in the Sinjar region and remove PKK elements from it.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Terrorism
Türkiye and Iraq reaffirmed their commitment to restoring full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of PKK elements there, according to a joint statement published by Türkiye's Communications Directorate. The commitments follow an agreement reached by the two countries' leaders on September 23, 2026.
Why it matters
The statement signals coordinated steps between Ankara and Baghdad on a long-contested border area and on the status of a militant group that Türkiye has long opposed. It also sets out a mechanism for verifying progress on the Sinjar process.
The information comes from an official joint government statement dated November 8, 2026, tied to an agreement reached September 23, 2026. Details of the timeline for handing over the Bashiqa-Zilkan base and the exact number of PKK elements remaining in Sinjar were not provided.
The players
Türkiye
Türkiye is a transcontinental country whose government has long opposed the PKK and has maintained military installations in northern Iraq.
Iraq
Iraq is the federal republic whose government seeks to restore state authority over Sinjar, a district that has been contested since the rise of the Islamic State.
The details
Türkiye will begin taking steps toward the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan base to the Iraqi federal government. The two countries also decided to activate the Joint Security Coordination Committee to jointly verify and monitor progress in Sinjar.
Timeline
- September 23, 2026: Türkiye and Iraq leaders reached agreement on Sinjar.
- November 8, 2026: Joint press statement reaffirming commitments was published.
Legal Context
The Sinjar statement continues Ankara's decades-long effort to limit PKK operations from northern Iraq, now shifting from unilateral military presence toward a negotiated handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan base. The Joint Security Coordination Committee represents a formal bilateral mechanism for monitoring that transition.
Readers following regional security should note that the Sinjar arrangement is still at an early stage, with handover steps and monitoring mechanisms announced but not yet detailed in terms of timing. Official statements from Ankara and Baghdad will be the primary sources for updates on progress.
The takeaway
The joint statement marks a shift toward formal, bilateral mechanisms for addressing the PKK presence in Sinjar, but implementation details remain to be seen. Progress will depend on whether the Joint Security Coordination Committee delivers verifiable results.
What happens next
The Joint Security Coordination Committee has been activated to verify progress on Sinjar, and Türkiye has begun steps toward the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan base, though no specific dates for those steps were provided.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Terrorism for background on militant groups and the security arrangements that shape regional conflicts.
