Turkish troops to remain in Iraq: Iraqi PM Tells Mosul Residents Liberation Approaching

Tension between Iraq and Turkey rose a notch Wednesday after a warning by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi that the presence of Turkish troops in the north of the country risked provoking a larger regional confrontation. The growing spat came as military efforts to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul intensified.

The Iraqi government issued a protest to the Turkish ambassador Wednesday, following a late night vote condemning the presence of Turkish troops in the north of Iraq.

The diplomatic dispute comes as Iraq prepares for an impending military operation to retake the country’s second-largest city of Mosul from Islamic State militants.

Prime Minister Abadi warned Turkey that it was risking a regional war by keeping troops inside Iraq, insisting that he’s “warned Ankara more than once against intervening."...
 [voanews.com]
5/10/16