ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Top generals from the United States, Iraq, and Turkey met on Thursday to discuss regional security. Turkish Chief of Defense General Hulusi Akar hosted the meeting with US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Joseph Votel, US European Command (EUCOM) Commander General Curtis Scaparrotti, and Iraqi Chief of Defense General Othman al-Ghanimi. They discussed the “general security situation in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria, and the measures required to be taken in the fight against terrorist organizations,” according to an American readout of the meeting. The US added that the gathering with the Iraqi and Turkish generals was part of a commitment to “strengthen relationships between their militaries.” The three were expected to also discuss US support for Kurdish forces in northern Syria – a major point of disagreement between Washington and Ankara.
