Iraq denies reports of agreement with Turkey on Mosul

Government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said on Friday Turkey had not followed formal channels to officially request joining the Mosul battle.

Hadithi’s comments came after US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter announced that an agreement between the two states was reached.

"I am unable to comment on Carter's statement as we are unaware of any agreement to allow Turkish troops on Iraqi soil until now. The Iraqi government is still looking into what role a Turkish presence will have in the Mosul battle," Hadithi told Iraqi media.

Carter said on Friday after a visit to Turkey that an agreement in principal had been reached allowing a Turkish role in the Mosul offensive.

"I think there’s agreement there in principle," Carter said after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top officials.

"Iraq understands that Turkey as a member of the counter-ISIL [IS] coalition will play a role in counter-ISIL operations in Iraq and secondly that Turkey since it neighbours the region of Mosul has an interest [in] the ultimate outcome in Mosul," he said.

"I am confident that we can work things out and there are things that would be productive for Turkey to do and we just need to work through these practicalities."

Carter also saw a military and political role for Turkey in an eventual assault on the Syrian city of Raqqa where IS has established its de facto capital.

"Likewise, Turkey will have a role ultimately in the collapse of Raqqa and then as a party in the region will have an interest in making sure that the governance of Raqqa is one that is reflective of the population there," he said. 

"We want to get ISIL out of Raqqa, we want to do that as soon as possible and we want the victory to last."

Baghdad has called for the withdrawal of hundreds of Turkish troops stationed at the Bashiqa military base near Mosul, where they have been deployed to train Iraqi fighters for the battle for the IS stronghold. 

Ankara fears that the operation to retake Mosul could be spearheaded by Shia militia and could also include Kurdish forces vehemently opposed by Turkey.

The long-awaited Mosul offensive against IS-group began on Monday after months of preparation. More than 15 countries are said to be logistically involved in the operation in various ways.