Baghdad

- The option of the safe zone in northern Iraq has emerged to the fore of discussion as one of the solutions for Turkey to confront the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters, especially after the recent military operation "Lock the Claw" it launched to secure a number of important and sensitive areas for it.

Turkish media indicated that the only goal set by Ankara for its ongoing military operation is to clear what it describes as the terrorist corridor in Zap, Matina and Avashin Bassian, and to establish a safe area, while the American Al-Monitor website said that “Turkey seeks to establish safe areas in northern Iraq, to prevent the PKK from carrying out operations in its territory."

In this atmosphere, no explicit Turkish position was issued regarding this path, but analysts and observers are talking about it as part of the Turkish vision to find a permanent solution to the PKK issue, especially with Turkey's "successful" experience in northern Syria, despite the different circumstances and reasons.

Zangana: The safe zone planned by Turkey will be difficult to digest for Iraq, Iran, and even on the American side (Al-Jazeera)

difficult to digest

However, this perception is surrounded by many difficulties.

In addition to the rejection of the influential Iraqi political blocs, the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the most prominent ally of Turkey, seemed concerned about this path, given that the field of that region would be villages and regions in the region if it was actually implemented.

In this context, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Muhammad Zangana, said that the safe zone planned by Turkey will be difficult to digest, especially for Iraq and Iran, and even the American side, for several considerations;

Most notably, Iran is empowering the PKK against the countries of the region, in addition to that this region will further complicate the situation, especially since Turkey does not leave the areas under its control.

Zangana believes, during his speech to Al-Jazeera Net, that this path can be replaced by the plan presented by the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani in 2008, which includes a four-way agreement, with the participation of the United States, Turkey and the Iraqi federal government, as well as the Iraqi Kurdistan government, and provides for the removal of the PKK elements. from Iraq, and a comprehensive reconciliation in Turkey, in addition to a radical solution to the issue of their permanent existence.” He asserts that “confronting the PKK must be political, and stem from within Turkey.”

The Turkish military operations constantly raise controversy in the Iraqi political and local circles, as a violation of the country's sovereignty, while the Baghdad government, as well as the regional government, express its concern about these military operations, describing them as "a breach of Iraqi sovereignty and a threat to Iraqi national security."

Despite Turkey’s establishment of a safe area in northern Syria, the Iraqi situation differs in terms of the absence of displaced persons to accommodate them in that region, as happened with the Syrians, but with the impasse of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and the length of the conflict with Turkey, this path may make this path a reality, in light of the precarious international and regional changes Towards settling differences and zeroing inter-problems.

Abu Ragheef: The path of the safe zone is not an option for the Iraqi leadership (Al-Jazeera)

Iraqi position

A security expert close to the Iraqi military circles, Fadel Abu Ragheef, says that the debate about the determination of the Iraqi and Turkish sides to establish a (safe) buffer zone is not on the agenda for the Iraqi army command, as any Iraqi-Turkish negotiation is based in the Iraqi mind on the necessity of evacuating those forces, which is What the Iraqi military leadership insists on.

Abu Ragheef believes, during his speech to Al-Jazeera Net, that the path of the safe zone is not an option for the Iraqi leadership, but there are also plans to deal with the PKK;

Either deal with him in a pragmatic political way to end the crisis, and obligate him not to take Iraqi lands as a starting point or aggression against any country, especially Turkey, or to leave the country.

In this context, a military advisor in the Iraqi National Security Adviser confirms, "The circulating reports on the issue of the safe zone are not based on facts on the ground. Iraq is a democratic system and enjoys full sovereignty over its lands, and if there is indeed a problem in some parts, our vision for a solution It is clear, and we are constantly talking with the Turkish side."

The military advisor, who refused to be named, adds to Al Jazeera Net, that "the approach to the safe zone is far from the field, but the new moves, whether from the Turkish side or even the ongoing Iraqi military operations in Sinjar, come within international and regional variables, some of which are related to the gas file that was damaged as a result of The Russo-Ukrainian War.

It was remarkable that the Iraqi army launched a military operation a few days ago against the PKK in the Sinjar district of Nineveh Governorate, and the forces loyal to it there, known as “Yabsha”, which is the largest armed confrontation in years, while it seemed a serious move from Baghdad, to avoid scenarios that might not be in her favour.

The #Turkish Armed Forces have launched a new operation called 'Claw Lock' against #Kurdish #PKK forces in #Iraq pic.twitter.com/cEOVhKz63t

— Middle East Update (@islamicworldupd) April 19, 2022

history of conflict

The area in which the latest Turkish operation was launched is of great importance, as it is a strategic land corridor for the PKK into Turkey. Its nature is also complex, with the presence of caves and fortifications;

Which requires - according to experts - a permanent military presence there to secure it after controlling it.

In its permanent military operations in northern Iraq, Turkey relies on the "Ankara Agreement" it signed with Britain and the Kingdom of Iraq in 1926 to settle its dispute with them over sovereignty over the state of Mosul in northern Iraq. century, the border between the two countries was drawn.

But Ankara says that the treaty includes an essential clause to combat its national security threats coming from northern Iraq, and Turkish politicians frequently mention that agreement as allowing military intervention in northern Iraq, to ​​prevent any threats to their country's national security coming from there.

The PKK, which Ankara and its Western allies classify as a "terrorist" organization, has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.