Turkish forces killed some 17 ISIL members in attack to Bashiqa camp

Sevil Erku?sevil.erkus@hurriyet.com.trTurkish forces have killed nearly 17 members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) when jihadists tried to sneak into the training camp in the Bashiqa region of northern Iraq late Jan. 8, Turkish sources told Hürriyet Daily News.

This is the third attack by ISIL against the camp since Turkey deployed additional forces in Bashiqa.

Sources denied media reports suggesting that two Turkish soldiers were killed in the attack, instead stating that no Turkish soldiers were injured during the attack. 

Five Turkish soldiers sustained injuries on Dec. 27 in the second attack this month on the Bashiqa training camp in northern Iraq.

The first attack on the military camp, which is relatively close to ISIL-held Mosul, occurred on Dec. 16 when ISIL militants fired Katyusha ÇNRA projectiles at the camp.

Turkey deployed around 150 troops to the Bashiqa area earlier this month with the stated aim of training an Iraqi militia to fight ISIL. 

The Turkish soldiers' presence in Iraq recently turned into a row between the two neighboring countries, when an additional deployment of Turkish troops to the Bashiqa camp kicked off an angry exchange between the two capitals. 

Turkey said on Dec. 14 that some of its troops had begun leaving as part of reorganization, but Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's spokesman said more soldiers would have to be removed before Iraq was satisfied.In Photos: Snow produces picturesque scenes across Turkey after days of stormsIn Photos: At least 27 refugees' bodies wash ashore on Turkey's Aegean coast In Photos: Greek Orthodox Christians dive into cold water to retrieve holy crossIn photos: Turkey commemorates Rumi with 'Night of Union' ceremony...