Turkey's defence chiefs visit northern Iraq

Turkey's top defence chiefs held separate meetings with Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq (KRG), and the former president of the region, Masoud Barzani.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, along with the country's Chief of General Staff General Yasar Guler, visited Erbil, the capital of the KRG in northern Iraq late on Monday, after an official visit to Baghdad earlier.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed regional security.

Important successes have been achieved against the Daesh terrorist organisation in Iraq, Akar noted.

Akar also expressed his belief that the two countries will gain very important successes in fighting other terrorists.

“We must further strengthen our cooperation and stand together resolutely against the PKK terrorist organisation,” he stressed.

Turkey is aiming to eliminate PKK terrorists in the region to ensure security along its borders and live in peace with its neighbours, he added.

READ MORE: Will Iraq and Turkey develop a security cooperation against the PKK?

Iraq visit

Akar and Guler arrived in the Iraqi capital for an official visit on Monday.

They met with senior Iraqi officials in Baghdad, including President Barham Salih, Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi, Defence Minister Juma Inad, and Interior Minister Othman al Ghanmi.

READ MORE: PKK in Iraq

Combating terrorism was the main focus of discussions during the visit, as well as joint cooperation between Turkey and Iraq.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

READ MORE: How the PKK drug trade in Iraq finances the terror network