“In terms of the current attacks in northern Iraq, we’re still looking into that. Our condolences go out to the Iraqi authorities. Two very senior flag-level leaders we believe were killed in that strike,” said Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ambassador James Jeffrey at a teleconference Thursday.
“We are continuing to encourage Turkey to carry out its legitimate operations against the PKK in coordination and cooperation with the Iraqi Government. And we commend the Iraqi Government for its efforts against the PKK, so I’ll leave it at that,” added the ambassador.
The killing of two Iraqi border officials and a soldier in a suspected Turkish drone strike this week has escalated tensions between the neighboring countries.
Ankara has not publicly acknowledged the fatal drone strike, repeating that it will continue its operations against the PKK in a statement Wednesday.
“As long as [the] PKK's presence in Iraq continues to be tolerated, Turkey, as now, is determined to take necessary measures to safeguard its borders wherever and whenever [the] need arises,” reads the statement.
Turkey launched a new offensive in the Kurdistan Region on June 15, with the stated aim of removing PKK fighters from its borders with the Region. PKK is an armed force struggling for the political and cultural rights of Kurds in Turkey.
When asked how he is going to include representation from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) in talks about the future of Syria, Jeffrey said they are “looking at ways to ensure that the Constitutional Committee and the process reflects the will of all of the Syrian citizenry, including the people in the northeast.”
