ANKARA — Turkish and Syrian officials discussed military ties and counterterrorism in Damascus this week, according to a senior Turkish defense official, as Ankara holds parallel talks with Washington over the war-ravaged country as well as the future of Syrian Kurdish groups.

Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, and a senior military delegation paid a surprise visit to Damascus on Tuesday as Ankara ramps up its Syria diplomacy following US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on the war-torn country earlier this month. 

Speaking during a press briefing in Ankara on Thursday, the Turkish official said the military delegation, led by the Defense Ministry's director general of defense and security, Ilkay Altindag, met with Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and other Syrian officials on Tuesday.

“Issues that were discussed include strengthening defense cooperation between Turkey and Syria, increasing Syria's security capacity and improving coordination between the two countries,” the official told reporters on condition of customary anonymity.