“Iraq now prioritizes protecting its territory by enhancing security infrastructure and implementing advanced surveillance systems,” Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, told Rudaw, adding that the measures aim to secure the country’s 384-kilometer frontier with Turkey.
Numan confirmed that the measures are being carried out through coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s Peshmerga forces to “strengthen security along the border with Turkey.”
He also highlighted efforts to fortify the Turkish border with “new outposts equipped with cutting-edge technology and logistical systems,” as well as the establishment of additional border stations tailored to the region’s strategic importance and difficult terrain.
Iraq’s border with Turkey runs through the northern provinces of Erbil and Duhok, both under the KRG’s jurisdiction. The area’s rugged, mountainous landscape poses significant challenges for border security operations.
Sections of the Iraqi-Turkish border are loosely controlled by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish group engaged in conflict with Turkey since the 1980s. The PKK’s presence has been cited by Ankara as justification for military incursions into Kurdish territory, including the establishment of bases, airstrikes, and artillery shelling.
In March 2024, Baghdad banned the PKK, a move welcomed by Turkey. However, despite pressure from Ankara, Iraq has not designated the group as a terrorist organization.
In August 2024, Iraq and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding on security cooperation, partly aimed at addressing the PKK. Turkey has designated the PKK as a terrorist group.
“We aim to translate our growing counter-terrorism understanding with Iraq into concrete on-the-ground actions,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated at the time.
As of March 2025, clashes between the PKK and Turkish forces have led to the full or partial displacement of 1,190 villages and resulted in 721 civilian deaths, according to the Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), a US-based human rights organization monitoring the conflict.
