Battle for Mosul: Turkey-Iraq row over ISIL operation

Iraq's joint-operations command has denied Turkey's claims of participation

Turkey says troops using artillery near Mosul but Iraq rejects "participation" claim in ongoing Peshmerga-led operation.

Ongoing tensions between Turkey and Iraq have intensified after Turkey said its troops fired artillery rounds at ISIL targets near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, following a request by Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

Binali Yildirim, Turkish prime minister, said on Sunday that Turkish troops stationed outside Mosul had provided support "with artillery, tanks and howitzers" following a request by Peshmerga forces.


However, Iraq's joint-operations command on Monday denied Turkey's claims. "The spokesman of the Joint Operations Command denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh," a statement said, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital.
 
Later in the day, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, said Turkish artillery fire had killed 17 ISIL fighters since the battle began and that four Turkish F-16 fighter jets were on standby to take part.