content tagged with Syria

Syria: Erdoğan warns of 'terror' threat from Kurdish groups, silent on Israel's Golan expansion

Syria: Erdoğan warns of 'terror' threat from Kurdish groups, silent on Israel's Golan expansion

Referrign to the Kurdish-led SDF's expansion after the regime's fall, Erdoğan said, To those making different calculations, let me remind you: The wolf knows as many paths as the jackal knows tricks."

Fall of Syrian regime opens door for refugees' safe return, says Turkish VP

Fall of Syrian regime opens door for refugees' safe return, says Turkish VP

“With the experiences and skills they have gained, they will serve as a strong bridge and a positive link between our country and Syria,” said Devdet Yılmaz.

9 December 2024

SOHR: Turkish drone strike kills 11 civilians in northern Syria

SOHR: Turkish drone strike kills 11 civilians in northern Syria

The strike targeted the Ain Issa town 35 kilometers from the Turkish-Syrian border.

9 December 2024

Turkey-backed forces seize Manbij city in northern Syria

Turkey-backed forces seize Manbij city in northern Syria

The clashes have claimed the lives of at least 50 people, according to SOHR

9 December 2024

Erdoğan says 'target is Damascus' as Syrian opposition gains ground

Erdoğan says 'target is Damascus' as Syrian opposition gains ground

The president initially expressed his support for the armed groups' offensive but later called it "troubling."

6 December 2024

Turkey urges Syrian government to reconcile with opposition

Turkey urges Syrian government to reconcile with opposition

The National Security Council has said that Turkey is committed to Syria’s territorial integrity as the Syrian government suffers significant setbacks in the battlefield.

6 December 2024

Back to square one in Syria

Back to square one in Syria

The jihadist groups that are growing on Turkey's doorstep are exposing not only Syria but also the peoples of the region to the threat of more destruction, more death and an endless war.

5 December 2024 Vecih Cuzdan

DEM Party protests Turkey-backed groups’ offensive in Syria

DEM Party protests Turkey-backed groups’ offensive in Syria

The party organized demonstrations in the capital Ankara and the border city of Urfa.

4 December 2024

Bahçeli says Assad must talk to Erdoğan to save his country

Bahçeli says Assad must talk to Erdoğan to save his country

Against the backdrop of recent Syrian military setbacks, the nationalist leader criticized the government's reluctance to normalize relations with Turkey, but expressed hope that it was not too late.

3 December 2024

Man hangs Turkish flag on Aleppo Citadel, sparking controversy

Man hangs Turkish flag on Aleppo Citadel, sparking controversy

Some pro-opposition accounts described the man as "stupid and ignorant."

2 December 2024 Vecih Cuzdan

Tensions rise between Turkish-backed factions, Kurdish forces in northern Syria

Tensions rise between Turkish-backed factions, Kurdish forces in northern Syria

At least 23 people, including four civilians, were killed and 31 other were wounded in recent clashes according to SOHR.

25 November 2024

DEM Party, bar associations protest Turkey’s airstrikes in northern Syria

DEM Party, bar associations protest Turkey’s airstrikes in northern Syria

Turkey carried out large scale airstrikes in the Kurdish-controlled parts of Syria in response to a deadly PKK attack in the capital of Ankara.

28 October 2024

At least 27 dead, civilian infrastructure targeted in Turkey's strikes in northern Syria

At least 27 dead, civilian infrastructure targeted in Turkey's strikes in northern Syria

The strikes reportedly targeted various civilian sites, including gas and energy facilities, oil stations, medical centers, bakeries, and grain silos.

26 October 2024

Turkey's desire to mend ties with Syria triggers infighting, purge attempts within its affiliated groups

Turkey's desire to mend ties with Syria triggers infighting, purge attempts within its affiliated groups

The "Joint Forces," a coalition of Syrian Turkmen armed groups, have launched an offensive in the rural areas of Afrin and Azaz against the Northern Hawks Brigade, which opposes normalization between Ankara and Damascus.

18 October 2024 Vecih Cuzdan

Clashes between Turkish-backed groups in northern Syria spark fire near border

Clashes between Turkish-backed groups in northern Syria spark fire near border

The governor of Kilis clarified that there was no attack targeting the border province. SOHR claims that one faction was acting on Turkey's orders, while the other opposed its efforts to normalize relations with Damascus.

17 October 2024

Man captured in Africa accused of attacks on Turkish forces in Syria

Man captured in Africa accused of attacks on Turkish forces in Syria

Turkey’s state media claims Ahmet Baykara was an al-Qaeda member involved in the group’s attacks on the Turkish military in northwestern Syria.

15 October 2024

Turkish-Russian patrol protested in Syria’s Hasakah

Turkish-Russian patrol protested in Syria’s Hasakah

A Kurdish woman was injured after being hit by a Russian military vehicle as Russian troops fired into the air and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Reporting on Turkish state media receiving award from jihadists is free expression, rules top court

Reporting on Turkish state media receiving award from jihadists is free expression, rules top court

TRT had won compensation from Sendika.org in the case concerning a news report about the public broadcaster receiving an award from the HTS group in Syria. The Constitutional Court has ruled that Sendika.org’s freedom of expression was violated.

Turkish, Syrian forces clash amid ‘normalization’ talk

Turkish, Syrian forces clash amid ‘normalization’ talk

Turkish military in Idlib has responded for the first time to weeks of ongoing Syrian bombardment.

Syria conditions normalization with Turkey to 'return to pre-2011 status quo'

Syria conditions normalization with Turkey to 'return to pre-2011 status quo'

In the first official statement in response to Turkey’s recent invitations for talks, the ministry has set a return to the pre-2011 status quo as the condition for normalization.

Turkey’s main opposition party says will hold talks with Syrian government

Turkey’s main opposition party says will hold talks with Syrian government

While the Syrian government has yet to respond to Erdoğan’s calls for a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, the CHP has confirmed it will engage in talks with them. However, a Syrian newspaper close to the Damascus government has denied the CHP statement.

Is normalization with Syria possible for Turkey while protecting jihadists?

Is normalization with Syria possible for Turkey while protecting jihadists?

Given the current situation, it is worth reminding once again: No power, including Ankara, has full control over the jihadist groups in northern Syria.

4 July 2024 Vecih Cuzdan

President Erdoğan open to renewing talks with Assad

President Erdoğan open to renewing talks with Assad

The president recalled his family meetings with his Syrian counterpart.

Kurds postpone local elections in Northern Syria once again to buy time

Kurds postpone local elections in Northern Syria once again to buy time

“The situation depends on the international political developments as well as the regional ones," said Sarkis Kassargian, a journalist in Damascus. "But it is highly likely that they will postpone the elections again in August."

7 June 2024 Vecih Cuzdan

Jihadist leader killed in suicide bombing near Syrian-Turkish border

Jihadist leader killed in suicide bombing near Syrian-Turkish border

Abu Maria al-Qahtani, the former leader of the HTS jihadist group, has been killed in the bombing in Idlib, the stronghold of the militant group.

Status of Kurds in Syria 'an internal matter,' says diplomat

Status of Kurds in Syria 'an internal matter,' says diplomat

"The decision will be made by the Assad regime. Remember that Assad had an extremely negative attitude towards the Kurds there for many years, up to incidents that occurred after a football match, and he hadn't even given them an identity," says Özülker.

15 February 2024

Turkey strikes infrastructure in Rojava following PKK attack

Turkey strikes infrastructure in Rojava following PKK attack

After 12 soldiers were killed in two separate PKK attacks targeting Turkish military outposts in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, Turkey carried out retaliatory strikes in both Syrian and Iraqi territory.

26 December 2023

SOHR: Turkish airstrikes on Rojava limit electricity access for over 2 million people

SOHR: Turkish airstrikes on Rojava limit electricity access for over 2 million people

Turkey carried out airstikes targeting Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria’s north in response to a PKK bomb attack in Ankara.

27 November 2023

'Turkey-backed groups cause instability in Syria'

Q&A WITH AMY AUSTIN HOLMES

'Turkey-backed groups cause instability in Syria'

"If Turkey wants some of the millions of Syrian refugees to voluntarily return, then it makes no sense for Turkey to destroy one of the few places in Syria where refugees could potentially return and live without fear of the Assad regime," says Dr. Homes.

10 November 2023 Ruken Tuncel

'Drone targeting US base came from Iraq, not Turkey'

'Drone targeting US base came from Iraq, not Turkey'

The US downed a drone near its base in Tal Baydar, northeastern Syria. Initial reports sugested that the drone belonged to Turkey.

6 November 2023

Turkey-backed militias accused of olive harvest thefts, extortion in northern Syria

Turkey-backed militias accused of olive harvest thefts, extortion in northern Syria

Turkey captured Afrin, a Kurdish city in northwestern Syria, after a ground offensive in early 2018.

1 November 2023

Turkey’s FM declares all PKK, YPG facilities ‘legitimate targets’ following Ankara bomb attack

Turkey’s FM declares all PKK, YPG facilities ‘legitimate targets’ following Ankara bomb attack

"Those who carried out such an act will regret it once again. I can say this now,” said Minister Fidan.