Turkey to gradually hand over Zilkan camp to Iraq, reactivate joint security committee

The office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces announced on Sunday evening that Iraq and Turkey have agreed to reactivate their joint security coordination committee, while the Turkish side confirmed its intention to begin the gradual handover of the Bashiqa–Zilkan camp to the Iraqi government.

In a statement, the office said that the countries’ joint higher committee reached agreement on three main points during their meeting, based on the understandings reached by the leaders of both countries on September 23, 2026.

The statement noted that both sides agreed to continue steps aimed at establishing full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of armed groups, while commending the efforts made by Iraqi authorities in this regard.

It added that Turkey will begin taking the necessary measures to gradually hand over the Bashiqa–Zilkan camp to the Iraqi federal government.

The two parties also agreed to activate the joint security coordination committee, which will be responsible for monitoring and overseeing the process in Sinjar, in accordance with previous agreements.