Iraqi irritation over Turkish troops

Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters preparing a rocket launcher as they guard a position at the frontline of fighting against Islamic State (IS) group's militants near the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar, west of the city of Mosul. The US-led coalition has made Iraqi and Syrian Kurdish forces primary allies against the Islamic State jihadist group, but over-reliance on the Kurds carries risks, analysts warn. AFP PHOTO / SAFIN HAMED / AFP / SAFIN HAMED

More than 100 Turkish soldiers have been deployed to an area near the Iraqi city of Mosul, that is under control of the Islamic State (IS), to replace a unit providing training to Iraqi troops, reports Turkish media.

Around 150 soldiers were sent by road to the Bashiqa town in Mosul, Anatolia news agency said, citing anonymous sources.

They replaced Turkish troops sent to the region two-and-a-half years ago in order to train Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Anatolia added.

Iraqâ€™s foreign ministry released a press release late Friday night saying that the Turkish troops had violated of the countryâ€™s sovereignty and demanded the soldiers to withdraw immediately.