Asharq Al-Awsat

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned on Friday Turkish air strikes against civilian areas in the northern Sinjar province.

Ministry spokesman Ahmed Mahjoub said: “The ministry condemns these attacks and categorically denies the existence of any coordination between Baghdad and Ankara in this issue.”

“The ministry renews its call on Turkey to withdraw its forces from Iraqi territory, given that their presence violates international treaties and the country’s sovereignty,” he added.

“The desire deep ties and coordination between Iraq and neighboring Turkey should be based on the united vision to eliminate terrorism in all of its forms and safeguard civilian lives,” he stressed.