Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Behind Turkey’s diplomatic doors Also this week: Hona’s six-seat counter, Galerist at 25 and Contemporary Istanbul’s return. By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Turkey Turkey’s test in Yemen As regional tensions mount, Turkey is balancing new defense commitments with its own security interests. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Turkey’s defense giants court Egypt at Alamein Airshow: What to know Three leading Turkish defense companies are participating in the El Alamein Airshow as Ankara seeks new sales and closer military-industrial cooperation with Egypt. Turkey
Russia to give Turkey preferential fertilizer access amid Hormuz supply crunch Ankara is expected to secure easier access to Russian fertilizer exports as the Iran war disrupts supplies from key Gulf producers. Turkey
Analysis With Hurjet test, Turkey seeks defense dominance beyond drones By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Mystery surrounds Turkey’s $40 billion refugee bill Turkey says it has spent $40 billion on Syrian refugees, but figures available in official records don't add up. Syria
As Syria constitution talks kick off, is Kurdish administration 'finished'? As representatives from Syria's government, opposition and civil society meet in Geneva to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country, Al-Monitor spoke with French academic Fabrice Balanche on prospects for the talks. Iraq
Psychologists build bonds between Turks, Syrians even as refugee sentiment sours Turkey may be pushing for the return of refugees to Syria, but their advocates are still working to create ties between children, preparing for what is likely to be a much longer stay. Syria
Russia to mediate deal between Syrian Kurds and Damascus With the Syrian Democratic Forces having handed over control of the Syrian-Turkish border to Damascus, the Kurds say Russia has promised to mediate a new round of negotiations between them and Bashar al-Assad's regime. Syria
Congress hammers Turkey with sanctions and Armenian genocide votes Still outraged by Turkey’s Syria incursion, Congress votes to sanction Turkey and recognize the Armenian genocide. Syria
Why is Russian military skeptical about US claim of Baghdadi's killing? The Russian military's incredulity about the US raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has some basis in practical reasons that go beyond just "great power jealousy." Iraq
Kurds use Syria incursion to chip away at Erdogan The Syrian Democratic Forces, after having contributed to the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as well as an IS spokesman, push for a greater US condemnation of Turkey's latest incursion into Syria. Syria
Ankara grapples with security, repatriation in Syria as cease-fire deadline expires Security challenges loom for the new Turkish-administered safe zone in Syria as the deadline expires for the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. Syria
Iraqi Kurds spurn Turkish goods to back Syrian kinsmen Kurds in Iraq are boycotting products from Turkey to show support for their brethren in Syria who are under attack by Ankara. Iraq
Turkey lobby goes to bat against Armenian genocide bill Ankara and its allies are warning that this week’s vote would "poison" the already strained bilateral relationship. Turkey
Turkey steps up campaign against SDF's Kobane Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazlum Kobane helped the United States track down and kill Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, but Turkey claims he is of the same ilk. Syria
US set for risky IS mission with leader’s death in Syria Saturday’s raid that took the life of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi offered a preview of what’s to come for the slimmed-down, US-led fight against IS, officials and experts say, which is now set to focus extensively on targeting the group’s leaders from larger US bases in Iraq and American units in Syria. Iraq