# Iraq and Türkiye Activate Joint Security Committee as Bashiqa-Zilkan Camp Handover Begins

*Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 10:05 PM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-11-08T22:05:06.344Z (55m ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Middle East
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/22897.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Iraq and Türkiye have activated a joint security coordination committee and begun the gradual handover of Türkiye’s Bashiqa-Zilkan camp to the Iraqi federal government. The move is meant to extend full state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of armed groups there.

Baghdad and Ankara have taken a step to reshape security arrangements in northern Iraq, announcing the activation of a joint security coordination committee and the start of a gradual handover of Türkiye’s Bashiqa‑Zilkan camp to Iraqi federal control.

The announcement on Sunday said the joint committee will oversee efforts to establish full state authority in Sinjar and bring an end to armed groups operating there. Linking that goal with the transfer of Bashiqa‑Zilkan signals an attempt to trade a visible Turkish military presence for a stronger formal role for Iraqi forces.

The Bashiqa‑Zilkan camp has hosted Turkish troops on Iraqi soil, a longstanding point of friction in Iraqi politics and a target for attacks by armed factions opposed to Ankara’s presence. Moving it under federal authority addresses a core Iraqi demand on paper, while Türkiye gains a structured mechanism to press Baghdad to act against groups it sees as threats.

If the joint security committee functions as described, residents in Sinjar and surrounding areas could see a clearer chain of command under Iraqi state forces instead of parallel armed structures. But much will depend on how Baghdad handles armed formations that have built influence there and how quickly any changes on the ground follow Sunday’s statement.

Key signals to watch are the pace and visibility of the Bashiqa‑Zilkan handover, the deployment pattern of Iraqi federal forces in and around Sinjar, and any public reaction from armed groups that have operated in the area under looser arrangements.