Iran-backed Shia militias sabotage Türkiye-Iraq relations
Qais Hazali (AA Photo)
As Türkiye and Iraq’s cooperation in oil trade and counterterrorism reaches its peak with the Development Road Project, Iran-backed Shia militias are targeting Ankara-Baghdad relations.
Qais Hazali, the leader of the Iran-backed Shia militia group Asaib Ahl Haq, made statements aimed at undermining the friendly atmosphere between Türkiye and Iraq. Hazali criticized Türkiye’s operations against the PKK, conducted with the support of the Erbil administration.
Hazali condemned Erbil’s stance and accused the Iraqi central government of remaining silent on Türkiye’s operations. He advocated for Türkiye’s withdrawal from Iraq and denounced the attacks targeting the PKK terrorist organization.
Shia groups with significant influence in Iraqi politics are known as proxy actors used by Iran to violate Iraq’s sovereignty. Additionally, these groups’ connections with the PKK terrorist organization have fueled allegations of Iran’s support for the PKK.
