Turkey, Iraq agree "in principle" on Ankara's involvement in Mosul

Turkey and Iraq have reached an agreement in principle that could eventually allow a Turkish role in the military operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State (IS) militants, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in Ankara on Friday, private broadcaster CNN Turk reported.

The details of Ankara's possible role in the operation have not been shaped yet as they also await confirmation from Baghdad, Carter said after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"That will have to obviously be something that the Iraqi government needs to agree on and I think there's an agreement there in principle," he added.

"But now we're down to the practicalities of that... and that's what we're working through," Carter said.

Tensions recently increased between Turkey and Iraq due to a statement by the Iraqi government which said that Turkish military units stationed in Bashiqa camp near Mosul should withdraw, while Turkey denied the allegations and said its troops were there on invitation.

Carter also stressed that the United States will continue to be a strong ally of Turkey.

He said the U.S. supports the initiatives taken by Turkey to protect its borders with Iraq and Syria, and it wants Turkey to participate in anti-terror operations against the IS.

Even though there may be differences of opinion between the U.S. and Turkey, both countries can overcome them through discussion, Carter noted.

The U.S. defense secretary arrived in Ankara on Friday for meetings with Turkish officials on a range of security challenges in the region, including the latest developments in Iraq and Syria.

He held meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Defense Minister Fikri Isik.

Following his visit to Turkey, Carter is scheduled to go to the United Arab Emirates for meetings with Emirati leaders. Endit