The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq says the United States is committed to working with Baghdad and Ankara to fight Kurdish rebels who launch attacks into Turkey from northern Iraq.
The U.S. military says General Ray Odierno pledged to support both countries during talks in Turkey Friday.
A military statement says Odierno met with a senior Turkish military official, General Hasan Igsiz, to discuss U.S. forces' ongoing assistance to Turkey in its fight against rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. It says the U.S. general also pledged to share intelligence.
Turkish troops have carried out near daily air strikes on suspected PKK rebel targets in Turkey and northern Iraq. The strikes follow an attack by PKK rebels earlier this month that killed at least 17 Turkish soldiers.
The PKK has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey since 1984. The violence has killed at least 37,000 people.
The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
