• Iraq agrees to Turkish base deal as militia disarmament timeline debated

    Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi has outlined a plan to disarm Iran-backed militias by June 2027 as Baghdad prepares for the withdrawal of US forces. The proposed disarmament timeline coincides with an agreement for Turkey to gradually hand over its Bashiqa-Zilkan military base to Iraq, part of wider efforts to bring armed groups and military facilities under Iraqi state control.

    Iraq agrees to Turkish base deal as militia disarmament timeline debated