UPDATE 2 - Türkiye’s national defense minister meets with officials in Kurdish Regional Government

UPDATES WITH MORE MEETINGS BETWEEN TURKISH NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER, OFFICIALS IN KRG

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) — Türkiye's National Defense Minister Yasar Guler on Wednesday visited Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government, accompanied by Chief of General Staff Gen. Metin Gurak.

On Tuesday evening, "Guler traveled from Baghdad to Erbil and held a meeting with Nechirvan Barzani, head of the Kurdish Regional Government," said the National Defense Ministry on X.

Barzani and Guler discussed regional developments, with a particular focus on counterterrorism efforts, the ministry also said.

The ministry said that after meeting with President Barzani, Guler met with Masrour Barzani, the KRG's prime minister.

Guler also met with KRG's Prime Minister Masoud Barzani.

The ministry said regional defense and security issues were discussed during the meeting.

Guler also held talks with Aydin Maruf Selim, the KRG's minister of state for minority affairs, and "exchanged views on defense and security issues in the region," the ministry added.

Following his meeting with Selim, who is also a member of the Iraq Turkmen Front Executive Committee, Guler met with Iraqi Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed.

"Minister Yasar Guler also held a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the KRG, Qubad Talabani," the ministry added.