AFP, Istanbul :
President Donald Trump and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed to cooperate in the fight against jihadists in Syria, in their first phone call since the new US leader took office, Ankara said Wednesday.
The leaders of the two NATO allies also agreed that the new CIA chief, Mike Pompeo, would visit Turkey this week, a Turkish presidential source said.
In their eagerly awaited phone call late Tuesday, the presidents discussed acting together in Turkey’s battle to capture the Syrian town of Al-Bab from Islamic State jihadists and taking the main IS stronghold of Raqa.
“Both leaders agreed to act together in Al-Bab and Raqa” in Syria, the source said.
A member of the US-led coalition against IS, Turkey in August launched a unilateral incursion in Syria, backing Syrian rebels to clear its border from IS jihadists and also pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia.
However, the battle for Al-Bab has proved the toughest yet of the Turkish incursion, with the army suffering increasing casualties and Erdogan complaining Ankara has been left alone.
Meanwhile a joint US-Turkey operation to take Raqa was mooted before but never developed further.
Erdogan has high hopes of Trump after expressing disappointment in the past with the former US administration of Barack Obama.
Turkey was particularly enraged by US support for Syrian Kurdish militia which Washington regards as the most effective group in the fight against IS.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday in his first overseas visit to discuss security issues, including Turkey’s fight against a movement led by a U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup, Turkish officials said, in a sign of improving relations between the allies.
Pompeo’s visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on Tuesday, according to officials from Erdogan’s office. They briefed a group of journalists Wednesday on condition of anonymity, in line with government regulations.
President Donald Trump and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed to cooperate in the fight against jihadists in Syria, in their first phone call since the new US leader took office, Ankara said Wednesday.
The leaders of the two NATO allies also agreed that the new CIA chief, Mike Pompeo, would visit Turkey this week, a Turkish presidential source said.
In their eagerly awaited phone call late Tuesday, the presidents discussed acting together in Turkey’s battle to capture the Syrian town of Al-Bab from Islamic State jihadists and taking the main IS stronghold of Raqa.
“Both leaders agreed to act together in Al-Bab and Raqa” in Syria, the source said.
A member of the US-led coalition against IS, Turkey in August launched a unilateral incursion in Syria, backing Syrian rebels to clear its border from IS jihadists and also pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia.
However, the battle for Al-Bab has proved the toughest yet of the Turkish incursion, with the army suffering increasing casualties and Erdogan complaining Ankara has been left alone.
Meanwhile a joint US-Turkey operation to take Raqa was mooted before but never developed further.
Erdogan has high hopes of Trump after expressing disappointment in the past with the former US administration of Barack Obama.
Turkey was particularly enraged by US support for Syrian Kurdish militia which Washington regards as the most effective group in the fight against IS.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday in his first overseas visit to discuss security issues, including Turkey’s fight against a movement led by a U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup, Turkish officials said, in a sign of improving relations between the allies.
Pompeo’s visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on Tuesday, according to officials from Erdogan’s office. They briefed a group of journalists Wednesday on condition of anonymity, in line with government regulations.
