Turkish operation in Iraq: "An objective convergence of Ankara, Erbil and Baghdad"

Text by: Anastasia Becchio Follow

Turkey launched early Wednesday morning June 17 a ground and air operation "Tiger Claw" against Kurdish rebels of the PKK in the north of Iraq. This offensive is the third of its kind. The Turkish armed forces are already active in Syria and Libya and their ships maintain pressure in the eastern Mediterranean, causing France's concern in particular.

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At dawn, Turkish military commandos, supported by fighters, attack helicopters and unarmed and armed drones, entered the Iraqi region of Haftanin, some 15 km from the Turkish border.

The Turkish Defense Ministry claims that this operation is launched in “  self-defense  ” against PKK forces. The Kurdistan Workers' Party is now less active on Turkish soil, but it has maintained bases in northern Iraq.

The Turkish authorities justify their operation by a "  recent upsurge in attacks on police stations and military bases  " located near the Iraqi border. The offensive was preceded by intense artillery bombardment.

► Read also: Iraq: Turkey launches a vast military operation against the Kurdish rebels

"  It is a question of attacking the PKK in its current positions in Iraq which are not simply the traditional positions in the mountains of Kandil, its true rear base, but in new positions which it acquired in the framework of the conflicts that took place against the Islamic State organization, whether in Iraq or Syria. The logic is to distance the PKK from its borders and in particular from Sinjar,  "explains Jean Marcou, holder of the Mediterranean-Middle East Chair at Sciences Po Grenoble.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not yet spoken on this operation, but his position is known: he has several times threatened in recent years to "  deal with  " the PKK in northern Iraq if Baghdad were not "  Unable to do so  ".

The Iraqi reaction is fairly measured and timid, some observers believe. The Turkish ambassador was summoned to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry yesterday, that is to say before the operation launched on Wednesday morning. But it was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs who delivered a letter of protest to the Turkish ambassador, while usually it is the minister himself.

Iraq denounces a violation of sovereignty and protests Turkish air strikes on positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party on Iraqi soil this week, which "  terrorized the population  ". As for the Turkish incursion on Wednesday morning, neither the Kurdish autonomous region of Northern Iraq nor Baghdad officially reacted to it. "  This operation is undoubtedly carried out with the tacit agreement of Baghdad , notes Jean Marcou. The Iraqi Kurdish government has made it clear that it wants the PKK from Sinjar to leave. There is an objective convergence of Ankara, Erbil and Baghdad  ”. The head of Turkish intelligence was also three days ago in the Iraqi capital.

Why such a show of force?

The desire to carry weight in the region, of course, energy ambitions in the Mediterranean as well, but also factors of internal policy. The economic recession is looming, the Turkish president is losing popularity in polls, his AKP party is criticized and has lost town halls as symbolic as that of Istanbul in the last municipal elections. He therefore plays on the nationalist fiber: "  intervening against the Kurds always flatters the nationalist ego of a part of the electorate  ", summarizes Jean Marcou.

However, his strategy of confrontation and his expansionist posture are not always viewed with a favorable eye by a part of the Turkish population, "  worried that Turkey is not only making friends  ", continues the researcher . But taking advantage of a window of opportunity, the Turkish head of state advances his pawns.

"  There is a strategy of power, of strengthening the army, of exporting military equipment, of influence on other continents such as Africa,  " explains Jean Marcou.

► Also to listen: Turkey: the return?

In Libya, Turkey intervenes via Syrian auxiliaries in support of the government of national understanding of Fayez al-Sarraj, recognized by the international community. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also paid a surprise visit to Tripoli this Wednesday with the Turkish Minister of Finance.

► Read also: Libya: the challenges of the Turkish military initiative

Thanks to an agreement concluded with the Sarraj government, Turkey can claim vast areas in the eastern Mediterranean rich in hydrocarbons, which is viewed with a very negative eye by Greece and Cyprus.

Tensions are also high with France. Florence Parly, the Minister for the Armed Forces, was to "  put the dots on the i  " on "  the Turkish attitude in the Libyan conflict  ", during the meeting of Defense Ministers of the Atlantic Alliance today and denounce a maneuver "  extremely aggressive  ”on the part of Turkish frigates with regard to a French ship participating in a NATO mission in the Mediterranean.

In recent weeks, tensions have been high between Paris and Ankara over the Libyan issue. France deeming  Turkish interventionism “  unacceptable ”, Turkey retorting that France was in its eyes the main “  obstacle  ” to peace in Libya.

► Read also: Libya: tension mounts within NATO between France and Turkey

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