21 March 2016•Update: 21 March 2016
By Kasim Ileri
WASHINGTON
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Turkey following two recent deadly terror attacks there, an official said Monday.
Blinken “will lead an interagency delegation to Turkey March 22-23 for the 4th U.S.-Turkey Working Group on Regional Security Issues,” according to the State Department.
The delegation will discuss U.S.-Turkey cooperation on security and counterterrorism issues, including the Syrian civil war and the U.S.-led coalition efforts to defeat Daesh.
While in Ankara, Blinken will meet with Turkish leaders to discuss bilateral and other regional issues.
The working group will include representatives from respective diplomatic, defense and intelligence agencies, according to the State Department.
The meeting takes place after the Turkish capital of Ankara and the city of Istanbul were recently hit by terror attacks perpetrated by the PKK and Daesh terror groups, respectively.
Turkey is a partner in the anti-Daesh coalition and fighting PKK terrorists in southeast Turkey.
