Iraq and Turkey have vowed to collaborate in the battle against the Takfiri ISIL terrorists, who continue to carry out acts of terror in those parts of Iraq and Syria under their control, Press TV reported.
"ISIL threatens not only Iraq's and Turkey's security but the entire region," Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, in Ankara on Thursday.
"We can defeat this organization by uniting all our powers, with the support of the countries in the region," al-Abadi said, noting that he expected Ankara to support Baghdad through intelligence sharing, military training and providing weaponry.
Davutoglu, for his part, said Turkey was already training Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces in their battle against ISIL terrorists, adding, "We are open to any idea" on extending support for Baghdad.
The Turkish premier further noted that both governments shared a "common approach to fight all terrorist organizations in the region," including the ISIL and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Al-Abadi's state visit to Turkey comes following a November visit to Baghdad by Davutoglu, signaling a thaw in bilateral relations that were recently strained over a variety of issues such as Ankara's move to assist Iraqi Kurdish region in independently exporting oil.
"We want to export oil through Turkey," said the Iraqi premier, adding, "It is in Iraq's interest."
Al-Abadi further stated that Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters were "rapidly" pushing out the Takfiri terrorists from the areas under their control.