Fierce clashes erupt between Syrian army, Turkish-led forces
Syrian troops battle Turkish-backed fighters near the border town of Ras al-Ain, threatening Russia-backed ceasefire. Heavy fighting between Syrian army troops and Turkish forces erupted near Ras al-Ain as Turkish-backed forces seized villages surrounding the border town. Turkish-backed rebels said there were intermittent clashes between the two militaries in recent days south of the town, […]
Syrian and Turkish armies in deadly border clash
The armies of Syria and Turkey traded deadly fire Tuesday for the first time since Ankara launched an anti-Kurdish offensive in early October, as Russia announced Kurdish forces had withdrawn from the border area. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Kurdish forces had pulled back from the entire border as per a deal struck between […]
RUSSIA AND TURKEY ARE BECOMING ALLIES, OVERSHADOWING ISRAEL
As Turkey and Russia grow closer they inevitably also grow closer in their work on ending the Syrian conflict and also on other regional and international issues. An emerging Russia-Turkey alliance in defense and energy will have long-term effects on the Middle East and Israel. This comes in the wake of Turkey acquiring Russia’s S-400 […]
Turkey: Israel a Jewish state? ‘That’s blatant racism’
Turkish president condemns Netanyahu for affirming Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, claiming it amounts to ‘blatant racism.’ Turkey condemned Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Tuesday, calling his affirmation of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people “blatant racism”. “Netanyahu says that Israel is ‘a nation state not of all its citizens […]
Russia-Turkey-Iran summit on Syria
The Russian, Turkish and Iranian presidents are scheduled to meet on Syria in February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday. “An agreement has been preliminarily reached and there is a basic understanding of holding the next summit next month,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart Beibut Atamkulov. He did […]
Exclusive: Turkey to deploy troops inside Syria’s Idlib
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey will deploy troops in Syria’s northern Idlib region as part of a so-called de-escalation agreement brokered by Russia last month.The “de-escalation” zones, agreed by Turkey, Russia and Iran, would be further discussed in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Ankara next week, Erdogan […]
Top Merkel aide says Turkey’s conduct ‘unacceptable’
BERLIN (Reuters) – Turkey’s behavior is “unacceptable” and Germany has a duty to protect its citizens and companies but also wants to maintain strong ties with Ankara, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff said on Sunday. Relations between the NATO allies have deteriorated since Turkey arrested six rights activists, including one German, two […]
Germany warns citizens of Turkey risks amid arrests
The German government has warned its citizens and firms they face the risk of “arbitrary” arrest in Turkey. “People who are travelling to Turkey for private or business reasons are urged to exercise increased caution,” the German foreign ministry said. Firms face investment risks in Turkey because of Turkish legal deficiencies, the ministry said. Germany […]
Turkey’s Deputy PM blasts Israel for closing Temple Mount
Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister on Monday blasted Israel’s two-day closure of the Temple Mount following last week’s terrorist attack as a “crime against humanity.” Israel closed the compound on Friday and Saturday after the attack, in which two Druze police officers were murdered. On Sunday, the compound was reopened with increased security measures, including the […]
Turkey’s Erdogan calls for review of Nato over US arming of Kurds fighting Isil in Syria
urkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened the US on Sunday over its arming of Kurdish forces in Syria, calling for a review of the Nato military alliance in response. “At one side we will be together in Nato but on the other side you will act together with terror organisations,” he said in reference to […]