Why Does Turkey By Any Means Try to Participate in Mosul Liberation Operation?

• 10.18.2016, 14:54
•  Near East,  World

newinform.com

Yesterday the Iraqi armed forces, along with Kurdish forces started the liberation operation of the second-largest city of Iraq, Mosul. This was announced by the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi.

It is reported that the assault involved about 30 thousand people. It is difficult to assess the amount of the IS forces in Mosul. According to various sources, there are 3.5-4 thousand militants in the city, but Iraqi authorities do not rule out that this may be a larger number because of terrorists surrender from Ramadi, Tikrit and Bayji cities. In any case, the battle for Mosul, for which the Iraqi military had a long preparation, will be quite heavy. Military experts point out that the liberation of Mosul operation can last for several weeks. Although Iraqi forces already have some success in this direction, the terrorists will not easily hand over the city, which is important for the parties for several terms. Thus, losing the oil-rich Mosul, IS will incur serious financial losses. At the same time losing the city will mean losing the connection with Syrian Raqqah that is considered the capital of IS terrorists. Mosul also has psychological significance for both sides, because it is the second largest city in Iraq.

The US-led international coalition fighting against the IS expressed their support for this initiative by Iraqi authorities, airstriking IS positions in the city and its surroundings.

Turkey has also expressed its intention to participate in the liberation of Mosul. "We can no longer remain indifferent to the situation in Iraq," Erdogan said, noting that Turkey has the same rights to participate in the liberation of Mosul, as the US had in 2003 when invading Iraq.

Turkey is trying to get the right of participation of Turkish troops in battles for Mosul 60 kilometers far of the city, explaining it by the need of protecting turkomans in Mosul, as well as by the expected large flow of refugees from the war. But Baghdad rejected, arguing that the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq is a violation of its sovereignty. Ankara, seems, is not going to pay attention to Baghdad complaints since the liberation of Mosul has regional significance, as it can be crucial for the promotion of Turkey's and Iran's interests in Iraq. For this reason, Ankara strongly opposes participation of Shiite groups in the liberation of Mosul. At the same time the liberation of Mosul would enable Iran for the creation of the corridor towards Syria, which is not desirable for Turkey.

Thus, the liberation of Mosul will have crucial implications not only for the fight against IS, but also in terms of rearrangement of forces in the region.