Kurdistan Workers' Party

In a clear sign of intensified common efforts to clear northern Iraq of PKK terrorists, Türkiye and Iraq will hold another high-level security summit in Baghdad on March 14 with the participation of two countries' defense and foreign ministers as well as intelligence chiefs.

Turkish and Iraqi local military officials held a security meeting along the border, the Turkish Defense Ministry has announced, stressing that the two neighboring countries are cooperating to secure the border and citizens of the two nations.

Security forces have "neutralized" five PKK terrorists in northern Iraq; three in the territory of the Claw-Lock Operation and two in the Hakurk region, the Defense Ministry announced on March 11.

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has insisted that Turkish troops will remain in northern Iraq until the terror threat, particularly from the PKK, is eliminated.

"Everyone knows that Türkiye needs to move to another phase [in the fight against terrorism]," Güler said during a gathering with reporters in the capital Ankara on March 10.

Türkiye and the United States have agreed to resume "counterterrorism consultations" and establish a dialogue on defense industry cooperation, according to a joint statement released on March 9 following talks between the country's top diplomats.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has met with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, pressing the United States to sever its connections with the PKK and its affiliates.

In the meeting on March 7, Fidan underscored Türkiye's commitment to combating terrorist organizations in Syria, urging the U.S. to "act with the spirit of alliance," according to diplomatic sources.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has announced the destruction of 59 caves, bunkers and explosive depots belonging to the PKK in operations across nine eastern and southern provinces.

The head National Intelligence Organization (MİT) İbrahim Kalın went to the United States to hold talks with his counterpart, William Burns who is chairing the Central Intelligence Agency of the U.S.

According to sources, along with Burns, Kalın will also meet senior officials from the White House, State Department and Congress.

Türkiye will continue its fight against terrorism decisively and is poised to resolve problems stemming from the PKK's terrorist presence in northern Iraq this summer, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed, calling on relevant parties to respect Türkiye's security concerns.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has "neutralized" a senior terrorist responsible for the youth structure of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization in northern Iraq.