Turkish army chief meets US counterpart in Washington

ANKARA

Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar met his U.S. counterpart Joseph Dunford on May 6 in Washington, where they discussed developments in Iraq and Syria, the Turkish military told state-run Anadolu Agency in a statement.       

The meeting was held ahead of a U.S. visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later this month.    
  
Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan and presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın also attended the meeting       
Turkey, Russia and Iran singed and agreement on May 4 that designated de-escalation zones in the Syrian city of Idlib and certain parts of Latakia, Homs, Aleppo and Hama as well as Damascus, Eastern Ghouta, Daraa and Quneitra.       

The deal aims at stopping the use of all arms, including air power, between warring parties in the regions. 

It also attempts to ensure “emergent and continuous humanitarian aid” be sent to the regions.       

The agreement will remain in place for six months and could be automatically extended if the three guarantor countries agree.       

Checkpoints will ensure the safe flow of humanitarian aid and provide secure passage for civilians.

Observation points will monitor the cease-fire in the region.      
 
Meanwhile, the Turkish Air Force has conducted a series of operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq in recent weeks.       

Late last month several airstrikes targeted the PKK and the affiliated Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the northern Sinjar Mountain region and in northern Syria respectively, killing around 90 militants.