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Turks blame US, Iran for encouraging Baghdad against Ankara

Turkey's opinion-makers think Iraq isn’t acting alone in its calls for Turkish troops to leave a camp near Mosul.
A view of Zalikan Camp in Bashiqa, October 6, 2016. Picture taken October 6, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTSR6ML

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s demand that Turkish troops stationed in the Bashiqa camp near Mosul leave Iraq has riled Turks of all shades, regardless of whether they support President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party or not.

The blame for Baghdad’s position, however, is being placed on the United States, which is said to be inciting Abadi against Turkey. Iran is also accused of using the Abadi government to keep Turkey away from a Mosul operation.

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