UPDATE - NATO chief arrives in Turkey for official talks

ADDS ERDOGAN, STOLTENBERG MEETING

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - NATO's top official arrived in the capital Ankara on Monday for official talks in the wake of the U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the Assad regime in Syria.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli after being welcomed by a military ceremony at the Defense Ministry.

The two exchanged views on cooperation in the fight against terrorism, making lasting peace in Syria, Saturday's airstrikes targeting the Assad regime in Syria, air and missile defense systems, and the upcoming NATO defense ministers’ meeting to be held in June, Canikli wrote on his Twitter account.

The NATO chief also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential complex.

The meeting was held closed to the press and lasted over an hour.

The U.S., U.K., and France early Saturday launched airstrikes on reported Assad regime chemical weapons facilities in Syria.

The strikes followed the Assad regime allegedly carrying out a chemical attack in Douma, Syria which killed 78 civilians and injured hundreds of others.