Carter calls Turkish defense minister

Defense Secretary Ash Carter called Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Işık today to express condolences following the attack on the Istanbul Ataturk Airport that killed 41 people and injured more than 200.

"Secretary Carter strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Istanbul as a cowardly assault on a stalwart NATO ally and enduring partner in our efforts to confront the threat of terrorism," according to a Pentagon statement. "He emphasized that the Defense Department joins with the people of Turkey in mourning the victims of this tragedy, and reaffirmed that the department will work closely and resolutely with Turkish allies to defeat terrorists of any kind."

Carter and Işık agreed to confer again at the upcoming NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland.