Security expert Ahmad Breesam Al-Tamimi suggested that National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Araji's visit to Sulaymaniyah may be linked to Turkey. In an interview with "Baghdad Today," Al-Tamimi stated that Turkey's current actions in the areas of the Metin mountain range, around Amadiya, and other parts of Duhok are not a targeted military operation but rather a broad invasion, during which Turkey has taken control of expansive areas, establishing military outposts and checkpoints, while maintaining military momentum. This has raised public concern and caused embarrassment for all governmental circles due to the lack of any reaction, despite the actions being a violation of national sovereignty regardless of Ankara's justifications.
He added that the Peshmerga forces, which include tens of thousands of fighters, did not intervene, even though they are responsible for the region's security, and Baghdad would not have hesitated to provide support if Erbil had requested it. Al-Tamimi described the situation as very distressing, especially with images of displaced families in the region. He pointed out that the region prevents any unit from entering it, yet has taken no action against the Turkish invasion.
He emphasized that Al-Araji's visit could have included a message from Prime Minister Muhammad Shia' Al-Sudani to the regional leaders in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah regarding the deployment of federal forces on the border with Turkey and finding practical solutions to eliminate the threat posed by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to Turkey, to encourage Turkey to withdraw to the border while achieving greater security coordination, especially as the region is part of the Iraqi state.
Al-Tamimi clarified that the Turkish invasion could take on serious dimensions if current conditions remain unchanged without any Iraqi response from either Baghdad or Erbil to unify positions and prevent areas, villages, and cities from becoming battlegrounds. Qasim Al-Araji arrived in Sulaymaniyah today on an unannounced visit, directed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shia' Al-Sudani. Meanwhile, the office of the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Pavel Talabani, revealed that the visit focused on coordinating intelligence efforts to combat terrorism.
