Analysis Turkey eyes gains from US-Iran deal as Ankara balances Tehran, Washington Turkey sees the US-Iran memorandum as a chance to reduce regional spillover risks, revive trade with Tehran and gain diplomatic breathing room. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties The move eases a key source of friction with Turkey ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Turkey's border reopening unlocks new sphere of influence in Syria Turkey reopened the Akcakale-Tell Abyad crossing on Monday, ending an 11-year closure along the Syria border. Turkey
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Is Syria’s Sharaa poised to outdo Turkey in formalizing gains for Kurds? By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Inside Turkey’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis How the Iran war is giving Turkey's Erdogan a big boost By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Will Syria come up in Biden-Putin summit? US pressing to maintain humanitarian corridors into Syria; Erdogan’s issues with US Syria policy; UN envoy refers to Syria’s "tragic irony." Russia
Erdogan threatens to strike refugee camp inside Iraq The rhetoric against Makhmour, a settlement where residents are overwhelmingly sympathetic to the Kurdistan Workers Party, could be part of a strategy to divert attention away from economic problems at home. Iraq
NGOs in northeast Syria warn of low water levels in hydroelectric dams Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates River could shut down next month, which would affect electricity and water supplies for millions of people in autonomous administration, government and rebel territory. Syria
Turkey touts assassination of top PKK militant as retribution to US The Turkish media has trumpeted the killing of a high-ranking PKK militant by Turkish security forces in northern Iraq as a reprisal of the US support of the Syrian Kurdish groups, while Turkey seems to be a major blockade before Syrian Kurds’ desire for political recognition. Turkey
Biden administration poised to ax US oil company’s waiver for Kurdish-led northeast Syria The decision to withdraw the waiver to produce and sell oil in Syria has been presented by administration officials as a policy correction, not a shift. Syria
Talk of Kurdish weddings code for terror plots, Turkish prosecutors say The Turkish justice system is overwhelmed with thousands in prison for such dubious crimes as texting about weddings. Turkey
Turkish forces in fresh offensive against PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan The latest Turkish military operation against the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan comes at a time when Ankara finds itself increasingly under strain, both on the domestic front and in its frosty ties with Washington. Turkey
Court case against priest evokes bitter memories for Turkey’s Assyrians Turkey’s tiny Assyrian community views a jail term handed to an Assyrian priest on “terrorism charges” as an official strong-arming tactic, while Assyrians around the world call for dismissal of the case. Turkey
Security chaos prevails in FSA-controlled town of north Syria Assassinations and attacks are on the rise in the Syrian city of al-Bab controlled by the Free Syrian Army, and the perpetrators remain unknown. Syria
Crackdown on dissent highlights Turkey's drift from democracy A recent decision to nullify a parliamentary vote and ongoing targeting of opposition lawmakers are further evidence of Turkey’s slide away from a democratic system. Turkey
Will Turkey’s third largest party survive closure case? The fate of Turkey’s main Kurdish political movement remains in limbo even though the Constitutional Court last week rejected an indictment seeking the closure of the party. Turkey
Top Turkish court rejects bid to close pro-Kurdish party Citing technical flaws in a case seeking the closure of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party, the Turkish Constitutional Court rejected an indictment by a top prosecutor, setting the stage for possible rifts among political alliances in Ankara. Turkey
