![Iraqi defense minister Thabet al-Abbassi [left] and his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler meeting in Ankara on October 5, 2023. Photo: Turkish defense ministry](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.rudaw.net%2Fs3%2Frudaw.net%2FContentFiles%2F758423Image1.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Iraqi defense ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Minister Thabet al-Abbassi met with his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler in the Turkish capital Ankara on the first day of his trip.
“Security and military cooperation between both countries and coordination between Iraq and Turkey in various fields, especially security and training, were discussed,” read the statement.
The Turkish defense ministry said in a separate statement that the ministers discussed “cooperation in the fields of regional military and defense industry.”
“The importance of further strengthening cooperation through joint steps that can be taken, especially in the fight against terrorism and border security, was stressed,” added the Turkish defense ministry.
Two armed men on Sunday attacked the Turkish interior ministry in Ankara, injuring two police officers. The PKK claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. Since then, the Turkish army has intensified airstrikes against the alleged PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region and against the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Rojava.
YPG is the backbone of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Turkish defense ministry stated that about 60 alleged PKK positions in the Kurdistan Region have been targeted since Sunday, adding that numerous PKK fighters have been “neutralized.”
Turkey uses the term “neutralized” to denote adversaries captured, wounded, or killed.
Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, spokesperson for the Joint Operations Command, told Rudaw on Thursday that there is a “great coordination” between Iraq and Turkey at their borders, adding that their objective is to “ensure security and safety of the borders as well as prevent violation of the Iraqi sovereignty.”
US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told Rudaw during a press briefing on Wednesday that Turkey “should coordinate its actions with Iraq in a way that supports and respects Iraqi sovereignty.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that any facility linked to the PKK in Iraq and Syria would constitute “legitimate targets,” for his country.
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