Turkey in cooperation with Iraq against Daesh, PKK: PM

By Nilay Kar Onum

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey is in close cooperation with Iraq in the fight against Daesh and PKK terrorist groups in northern Iraq through cross-border cooperation, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in the capital Ankara, Yildirim said: “Whenever the need arises, [cross-border] operations are always held in northern Iraq.

"We are in close contact with the Iraqi government [...] with regard to both eradicating Daesh from the region completely and wiping out PKK."

He said he hoped to develop an even better cooperation with Baghdad in the near future.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children.

At least 319 people have lost their lives in Daesh terror attacks in Turkey, where the terror organization has targeted civilians in suicide bomb, rocket and gun attacks.