Iraq is to mediate talks between Turkey and Syria in Iraq's capital, sources from Ankara and Baghdad confirmed to The New Region on Sunday.

A source close to Turkey’s ruling AKP confirmed to The New Region that representatives of the Syrian and Turkish governments have agreed to a new round of dialogue.

The meeting will not be at a presidential level, though security officials from both countries will be present, The New Region understands.

A senior source close to the Iraqi government also confirmed the meeting, however refused to give details of how and when it will take place.

Relations between Turkey and Syria have for years been strained. Turkey has moved into Syrian territory in its hunt for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and its military backbone the People’s Defense Units (YPG), who are considered enemies by both Ankara and Damascus.

Addressing members of his party early in June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that Turkish cross-border operations have been in a bid to eliminate the “terrorist” threat on the country and that his government will not retreat from their operations.
 
“Turkey cannot reach peace and feel safe without the terror-producing swamps in Iraq and northern Syria being dried up,” Turkish state media quoted Erdogan as saying.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is an armed group that has fought for increased Kurdish rights in Turkey for decades. The group, designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara, uses mountainous areas of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region as shelter and often engages in direct armed conflict with Turkey.
 
Turkey regularly carries out aerial strikes on areas it claims are the group’s positions in the Kurdistan Region. The bombardments have resulted in civilian casualties multiple times, despite Ankara’s denial.

Similar to the operations in the Kurdistan Region, Turkey has launched several attacks on the SDF held areas of Syria, locally known as Rojava.

Turkey considers the YPG as inextricably linked to the PKK, however the YPG insists that they merely subscribe to similar ideology.

Speaking to The New Region earlier in the month, advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Farhad Alaaldin, said that dialogue is now crucial.

“Regional tension is on the increase and it is time for all countries to engage in constructive dialogue to deal with critical issues and concerns,” he said, adding that “Iraq is playing its role by using its positive relations with neighboring countries to create common interests that serve the people of the region.”

Baghdad’s mediation comes after a high-level delegation from the Turkish government visited Baghdad in March, following which Baghdad announced that they have officially categorized the PKK as a threat to its security and classified it as a banned group in the country.

Additional reporting by Bizhar Shareef