Top US, Turkish generals discuss Mosul, Raqqa situation

By Yesim Sert Karaaslan

ANKARA

Turkish and American military chiefs discussed the ongoing fight against Daesh in Iraq’s Mosul and the latest situation in Syria’s Raqqa in Ankara along with a host of other regional developments on Sunday.

U.S. Gen. Joseph Dunford met Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar at the Turkish military headquarters in the capital, the Turkish military said in a statement.

According to the statement, the meeting between Dunford and Akar addressed a range of issues, including the operation to retake Mosul from Daesh, latest situation in the Syrian city of Raqqa.

"We have had an exchange of ideas on driving the PYD/YPG terror organization out of [Syrian city of] Manbij, the latest situation in [Daesh’s stronghold in Syria] Raqqa, Mosul operation [in Iraq] and the activities of PYD/YPG group in Syria and Iraq as well as discussing the mutual fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, especially in Al Bab and Raqqa," the statement said.

"The importance of protecting the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria and carrying out mutual anti-terror operations were emphasized once again," it added.

Turkey also expressed concerns over a sectarian attitude towards the predominantly Sunni population in Mosul.

Last month, the Iraqi army -- backed by the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes -- launched a wide-ranging operation aimed at retaking Mosul, the last Daesh bastion in northern Iraq, from the terrorist group.

In mid-2014, Daesh captured Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, before overrunning vast swathes of territory in the country’s north and west.

Recent months have seen the Iraqi army, backed by local allies on the ground and the U.S.-led air coalition, retake much territory.

Another key agenda point during the meeting, according to the statement, was Turkey's concern about the ongoing activities of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in the U.S.

Led by the U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, FETO is accused of orchestrating Turkey’s July 15 coup plot as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

The July 15 defeated coup left 246 people martyred and 2,194 injured.