Obama calls Erdoğan to extend condolences over Suruç bombing, discuss anti-ISIL cooperation

US President Barack Obama (R) and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attend a joint news conference in the White House on May 16, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)

US President Barack Obama has called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to extend his condolences over the death of 32 people in a suspected Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) bombing in the southeastern Turkish city of Suruç.

A statement released from Erdoğan's office on Thursday said the two leaders discussed ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in efforts to prevent the entry of foreign fighters to Syria via Turkey, in addition to ensuring Turkey's border security against ISIL.

During the phone talk, Obama also conveyed his condolences over the killing of two police officers in the province of Şanlıurfa on Wednesday, the statement said.

“President Obama confirmed that the US attaches great importance to Turkey's national security,” the statement said.

The explosion in Suruç on Monday took place at a cultural center as a number of young people from the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) were holding a press conference regarding plans to rebuild the Syrian border town of Kobani.

The attack came days after Turkey had begun to step up its efforts against ISIL militants inside Turkey.

Acting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said initial findings suggest ISIL terrorists were behind the attack on the gathering in Suruç.