BAGHDAD – Iraq announced on Monday that the phased withdrawal of Turkish forces from the Bashiqa-Zelikan military camp in northern Nineveh province will begin this month, with the base expected to be fully transferred to Iraqi security forces by the end of the year.

A joint Iraqi-Turkish security committee has begun its work to oversee the handover of the camp, Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, told the state-owned al-Iraqiya channel.

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Al-Numan noted that the committee's activation stems from understandings reached between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in New York in September.

The announcement follows a joint statement issued by the two countries on Sunday, in which Ankara agreed to gradually transfer its Bashiqa-Zelikan military base to the Iraqi federal government.

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The base in the Nineveh Plain has long been a point of contention between both countries. Türkiye established a military presence there in 2015 to support operations against the terrorist group Islamic State, while Iraq has long viewed it as an infringement on its sovereignty.