Top US military officer arrives in Turkey

ANKARA

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford arrived in Turkey on Tuesday to hold a series of meetings.

Dunford's visit comes amid increased tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia over the execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by the Saudi authorities.

Saturday's execution prompted attacks on Saudi missions in Iran and saw the axing of diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Tehran.

Dunford was welcomed at Esenboga Airport in the capital Ankara by Turkish and U.S. officials and is scheduled to meet his local counterpart Hulusi Akar on Wednesday, according to military sources.