KRG hands over main crossing with Turkey to Baghdad

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) transferred the control of Ibrahim Khalil Border Crossing, the main crossing between Turkey and Iraq to the Baghdad government on Tuesday.

Turkey’s official Anadolu Agency reported that Turkish and Baghdad military units, which have been conducting joint drills since Sept. 18, have left their barracks and moved towards the Iraqi side of the border.

Dogan News Agency reported that that the border gate will be handed over to Baghdad in a ceremony with the attendance of Baghdad Chief of Staff Osman al Ganimi and Lt. Gen. Ismail Temel, the commander of Turkey’s Second Army which is in charge of guarding the country’s southern and eastern borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran.

The border gate, which is located across the border from southeastern Turkey’s Habur Customs Gate in Silopi district of Sırnak province, is of crucial importance for the bilateral trade between the two countries, including oil imports with tankers. 

The Kirkuk - Ceyhan oil pipeline connecting northern Iraqi oil fields with Turkish oil terminal in the Mediterranean also passes west of the border crossing before entering Turkey.