World Bulletin / News Desk

The defense ministers of Turkey and Iraq are to discuss the number of Turkish military training personnel in northern Iraq, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The posting of military trainers to Bashiqa, near Mosul, has caused a diplomatic spat between the two countries, with Baghdad insisting they are withdrawn while the Turkish government has said they are merely part of a routine troop rotation.

In a statement on its website, the Foreign Ministry said the number of military personnel stationed at Bashiqa would be reviewed following any agreement between defense officials.

The statement reiterated Turkey’s support for Iraq in combating ISIL and emphasized the nature of the mission to train Iraqi volunteers rather than engage in combat.

It said the Turkish mission had trained more than 5,000 Iraqis.