Turkish military ops will withdraw from Iraq once terror threat is eliminated: Deputy PM

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Monday that Turkey was in Bashiqa, Iraq, out of necessity to ensure national security.

“The Bashiqa camp is there because of terror which originates in Iraq, and it is our right to take measures against this. If the threat is removed, there will be no need," said Canikli.

Iraq has long demanded that Turkish forces withdraw from the Bashiqa camp near Mosul in the north of the country. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırm recently made an official visit to Iraq to meet with Iraqi counterpart Haidar al-Abadi to discuss regional stability and security.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Saturday that Turkey had agreed to withdraw from Bashiqa, but Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim did not confirm this alleged agreement. Yildirim noted significant progress in the fight against Daesh and said the issue of Bashiqa would be solved “in a friendly way".

A referendum may be held in Turkey as early as the first week of April on a new constitution, Canikli announced.

The reform package would form an executive presidential system, and is expected to be approved in parliament.

The general assembly in parliament is due to begin discussing the proposed package on Monday, and the amendments are expected to be completed in 18-20 days.

The reform package will go to a referendum upon parliament approval.

“We know that the U.S. supports the PYD with military training and supplying weapons. It is unacceptable for the U.S. to openly support a terrorist organization. Especially considering that we are allies, and have worked together on numerous accounts in the past," said Canikli.

He went on to describe the U.S. partnership with the PYD/YPG as a “serious threat for Turkey's security".

The PYD is the Syrian branch of the PKK, a Turkish separatist group that has been fighting Ankara since 1984 and has been on the U.S. State Department's terrorism list since 1997.