Turkey-Iraq military drill nears Habur border gate

An ongoing Turkish-Iraqi joint military drill is approaching the Habur border crossing between Turkey’s southeastern province of Sirnak and northern Iraq, according to military sources.

Troops of both countries are advancing towards the gate from the Turkish side along with tanks and armored vehicles, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The soldiers are advancing towards the border crossing, which also is known as Halil Ibrahim, with Turkish and Iraqi flags on display.

The drill began in Sirnak on Sept. 18.

The Iraqi central government has sought to take control of the gate, which has been under the control of northern Iraqi Peshmerga forces.

On Sept. 25, the northern Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) held an illegitimate referendum on independence for the region.

It was broadly opposed by the international community, including Turkey, as well as Baghdad, which pointed out that the poll was unconstitutional.