Death sentences cool warming Iraq-Turkey ties

Relations between Turkey and Iraq had been improving somewhat, with the countries even discussing a joint military operation against Kurdish militants in Iraq. That goodwill is being threatened, however, by the severe sentences Iraq is imposing on Turkish women for involvement with the Islamic State (IS).

When Turkey and Iraq adopted a joint position opposing September's independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, it appeared that they had smoothed over some of the tensions between them. With the Baghdad government having taken control of Kirkuk from the Kurds, Turkey has come to view as vitally important a new pipeline project to bypass Iraqi Kurdistan and the opening of a new major border crossing at Ovakoy as an alternative to the Habur crossing, which the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) controls. Ankara is also advocating joint operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the Qandil Mountains and Sinjar. A recent exchange of visits by the Iraqi and Turkish military chiefs of staff was seen as a possible prelude to such a campaign.