Mixed Messages as NATO Protects Turkey, Arms Kurds
The roughly half-hour meeting in London appeared to be the highest level talks between the two nations since Washington announced on Tuesday plans to back the YPG militia in an assault to retake the city of Raqqa from Islamic State. Turkey views the YPG as the Syrian extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), […]
Amid Dispute Over U.S. Arming Syrian Kurds, Mattis Says Relationship With Turkey ‘Not Always Tidy’
Defense Secretary James Mattis expressed confidence Wednesday that a dispute with Turkey over a U.S. decision to arm Syrian Kurdish fighters in the campaign to dislodge ISIS terrorists from their Raqqa stronghold will not affect a relationship between the NATO allies which he described as “not always tidy.” “We have very open discussions [with the […]
Turkey’s president raises tensions with criticism of Israel
Tensions have resurfaced between Turkey and Israel, with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticising the “racist and discriminatory” treatment of Palestinians, and Israel responding by summoning the Turkish ambassador and condemning Ankara’s human rights record. Erdoğan, Turkey’s president, denounced Israeli practices during an address in Istanbul on Monday night, describing the blockade of Gaza as having “no […]
Turkish President Erdogan criticizes Israel, claims Jerusalem is under ‘occupation’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sparked anger from Israel on Monday with a string of critical remarks — including his claim that Jerusalem remains under Israeli “occupation.” “Both in terms of our religion and historical responsibility, Al-Quds and the fight of our Palestinian brothers for rights and justice is of great importance to us. We […]
Turkey warns U.S. of blowback from decision to arm Kurdish fighters in Syria
Turkey warned the United States on Wednesday that a decision to arm Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State in Syria could end up hurting Washington, and accused its NATO ally of siding with terrorists. The rebuke came a week before President Tayyip Erdogan is due in Washington for his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, […]
US Says Turkey Conducted ‘Unsafe’ Air Strikes in Syria, Killing US Partners
With less than an hour’s notice to the U.S.-led coalition, Turkey, a U.S. NATO ally, conducted airstrikes in northern Syria on Monday night, killing “a significant number” of Kurdish YPG fighters, who have been “very important to the fight against ISIS,” Air Force Col. John Dorrian, the spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve, told reporters at […]
WH Says Trump’s Congratulatory Call to Erdogan Was Not an Acceptance of Election Result
Defending President Trump’s decision to congratulate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following Sunday’s controversial referendum win, a White House spokeswoman said Tuesday “the president’s number one job is to keep Americans safe.” “And if he needs to work with countries like Turkey and others to do that, I think that’s his priority and that’s what […]
Trump congratulates Erdoğan after Turkey vote grants sweeping powers
Donald Trump called to congratulate Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hours after the Turkish president claimed a narrow victory in a contested referendum that will grant him sweeping new powers. Trump’s call came as the Turkish government announced late on Monday night that it would be extending the state of emergency in the country by three more […]
The Latest: State of emergency extended in Turkey
The Latest on Turkey’s referendum on presidential powers (all times local): 6:45 p.m. Turkey’s parliament has approved a three-month extension of the state of emergency declared in the wake of last year’s failed coup. Government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus told parliament Tuesday that the state of emergency serves to purge the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah […]
Turkey’s referendum could signal trouble ahead for the country, experts say
Turkey’s narrow approval of a historic referendum will add to the already significant powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and could signal trouble ahead for the Middle Eastern nation, experts told ABC News. The referendum approved Sunday included 18 constitutional amendments, including abolishing the office of prime minister, which will eliminate a critical counterbalance to […]