Turkey - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Turkey

Turkey

October 15, 2026

Ankara 6:46 pm

13°C

Abandoned cars piled up among debris and standing water following extremely heavy rainfall, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 15, 2026.

Turkey: Flash floods kill 3, paralyze Istanbul after record downpour

Heavy rains stranded hundreds, blocking major roads and disrupting air and public transportation, flooding buildings and forcing school closures across Istanbul province.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attend the inaugural meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) at Prague Castle on Oct. 6, 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Explainer

Why Israel, Armenia don't benefit from hijab spat between Turkey, Azerbaijan

Israel and Armenia have reasons to worry about the escalating dispute between Turkey and Azerbaijan, despite their own tensions with Ankara and Baku.

Serhan Asker, General Program Coordinator at Halk TV, makes a statement outside the Ankara branch of Turkey's most-watched news channel, Halk TV.

Live Updates

Turkey seizes opposition Halk TV as crackdown widens: What to know

Halk TV is a pro-opposition broadcaster and one of Turkey’s most-watched news channels.

A shop owner assists one of his customers at Malta bazaar in the Fatih district in Istanbul, on Dec. 6, 2024.

Iran mum as Azerbaijan’s school hijab ban, Israel ties test alliance with Turkey

Azerbaijan’s restrictions on Islamic dress in schools have sparked an unusual public spat with Turkey, exposing tensions beneath the allies’ close political and security ties.

Latest News

Explainer

PKK pulls out of Metina in northern Iraq amid Turkey peace process

Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters arrive in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk on May 14, 2013, after leaving Turkey as part of a peace drive with Ankara.

Analysis

Pragmatic politics: Why Turkey avoids blaming Russia for Black Sea attacks

A cargo ship at the Port of Trabzon, Turkey

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Rubio signals US push to ease Greece-Turkey cable tensions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) meets with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (L) during a visit on Oct. 7, 2026, in Athens, Greece.

Turkey to send Mecca pact to parliament, opening path to Saudi deployment

Turkish Navy infantry soldiers take part in the Denizkurdu-I/2026 Exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Aksaz, at Marmaris in Mugla, on Sept. 24, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Closed off area of Verosha

Explainer: The conflict between Turkey and Cyprus over the Varosha ghost town

Turkey is supporting the development of a former tourist resort in Northern Cyprus, prompting condemnation from the Republic of Cyprus, Israel, the United States and others.

A Turkish army sign is pictured in the fenced-off area of Varosha in Famagusta town in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) of the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, on July 16, 2021.

Erdogan, Tatar announce controversial plan to further reopen Cypriot ghost town

A controversial plan to partially reopen an abandoned resort area in Cyprus’ buffer zone under the administration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus threatens to further raise tensions within Cypriot communities.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Wealthy Turks drive consumption despite soaring inflation

A well-off minority is the driving force behind vibrant consumption in Turkey, but the party might not last long as inflationist pressures increase and the country’s current account deficit widens.

Erdogan supporters in Diyarbakir province

Erdogan's game plan for next election involves Kurdish vote

As Erdogan’s dependency on Kurdish votes becomes more urgent, violence and other oppression against Kurds are on the rise.

A handout picture published by the parliament of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking.

Erdogan supports two-state solution, unveils new projects in Northern Cyprus visit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Ankara would help construct a presidential palace and new parliament building in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus during a high-level visit to the breakaway state Monday.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan takes Taliban's warning in stride

Turkey's leaders are brushing off the Taliban's warnings over extending its mission in Afghanistan.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a rally at the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul on July 15, 2019.

Has Erdogan achieved his goal to build his 'New Turkey'?

As Turkey marks the fifth anniversary of the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt, the putsch has served as a founding myth for Erdogan’s "New Turkey."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on stage during a local election rally of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Diyarbakir, eastern Turkey, on March 9, 2019.

Erdogan seeks to salvage Kurdish support as poll numbers sag

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city is seen as a sign of his recognition of how crucial the Kurdish vote will be in his bid for reelection in the next polls.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Erdogan sacks embattled university rector after months of protests

Melih Bulu, the unpopular political appointee to the top post of Turkey’s prestigious Bogazici University, has finally been fired.

2021 Turkish protest against 2015 Islamic State Suruc attack

Has Turkey changed its anti-Islamic State strategy?

Although Turkish authorities have increased security operations against Islamic State cells in the country, Ankara’s anti-IS strategy remains riddled with gaping holes.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) shakes hands with a Turkish soldier.

Turkey shrugs off Taliban warning over Kabul airport

Flights to evacuate Afghan interpreters will begin by the end of July, the White House said today.

Bagram base in Afghanistan

The Takeaway: Erdogan weighs risks of Afghan mission against benefits for US ties

Also: Gulf airline race takes off; Islamic State steps up Iraq attacks; Fortnite fatwa riles Egyptian gamers; is Israel’s army too small?; child beggars in Gaza’s cemeteries; Iraq unearths 4,000 year old city; and more! All in only about 1,500 words.