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Turkey and Iraq agreed on Thursday to closely cooperate on security and intelligence issues as part of joint efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Today's Zaman reports.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi spoke at a Baghdad news conference after meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who arrived in Baghdad on Thursday to meet with senior Iraqi officials during a two-day working visit.

When visiting Turkey in early November, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said his government is against foreign troops on Iraqi soil but is ready to accept other means of assistance to defeat ISIL and welcomed Turkey's support. “I hope Turkey will continue to support Iraq,” he added. Turkey has expressed that it is ready to train and equip members of the Iraqi military and police force.

Davutoglu's visit to Iraq is expected to lead to a fresh start with new unity government in the country.

Speaking at the airport before leaving for Iraq, Davutoglu stressed the importance of his visit to the country -- which took place at the invitation of his counterpart, Abadi -- saying that it aims to strengthen cooperation in all possible fields. “The relationship between Turkey and Iraq is of great importance, being far more special than the ties that two neighboring countries would ordinarily have,” said Davutoglu.

Abadi and top Iraqi officials are expected to visit Ankara in a short while to join a meeting of the Turkey-Iraq High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, which is considered as a significant step to improve ties.