Iraqi Kurds offer Turkey intel on Mosul hostages

Iraqi Kurds have offered Turkey cooperation on the ongoing hostage crisis, particularly sharing intelligence information regarding the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a senior Turkish Foreign Ministry official has said. 

In relation to efforts for the release of Turkish Mosul Consulate staff members held by ISIL militants since last month, both Turkey and Iraqi Kurds have agreed to “cooperate, especially on intelligence sharing,” the official said.

The statement came after Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani and a delegation including the KRG’s security, interior, energy and finance ministers held talks in Ankara on July 14.

Turkey welcomed the offer, saying Ankara will contact them “whenever needed,” the official said, adding that the parties had not discussed any specific cooperation topics at this stage.

ISIL kidnapped 49 people from the Turkish Consulate in Mosul on June 11, including 46 Turkish nationals. The Turkish hostages in Mosul were moved another place in the city some three weeks ago, but are still being kept together without being separated, according to Turkish diplomats. Officials have not dismissed the possibility of ISIL holding Turkish nationals as a “human shield,” as the group has not presented any specific demands for their release.

Turkey pledges help for financial problems of Iraqi Kurds 

In talks with the Iraqi Kurdish officials, Turkey reiterated that Ankara would support the KRG’s “fight against terrorism” and stressed the security of Turkmens in northern Iraq over threats by jihadi militants in the crisis-hit country.

“In talks with Barzani, we welcomed the KRG’s support to...