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

Turkey

Turkey

August 15, 2026

Ankara 5:36 am

16°C

Servicemen of Yavuz class, TCG Turgutreis (F-241), warship stand at attention on the deck as they participate in the live-fire phase of the "Blue Homeland-2026" (Mavi Vatan) tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.

Exclusive

Turkey set to sign charter for Saudi-led Red Sea coalition on Friday

Ankara pledged support for the proposed multinational alliance last month, but Friday’s expected signing will mark its formal entry into the Saudi-led grouping.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Explainer

Three ways China benefits from Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact: What to know

SPA

Analysis

Fidan heads to Egypt amid questions over Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan pact

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends a press conference in Moscow on June 16, 2026.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

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

An aerial view shows a Syrian man waving the independence-era Syrian flag at Damascus' central Umayyad Square, on Dec. 11, 2024.

Turkey’s intel chief in Damascus, set to meet Syria's transition, HTS leaders

The Turkish intelligence chief reportedly plans to hold talks with rebel leaders as US Secretary Antony Blinken is due to arrive in Ankara for crucial discussions on Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Ankara, on Dec. 11.

Turkey says Ethiopia, Somalia reach deal to end Somaliland dispute

The Turkish-mediated progress came as the three countries' leaders met in Ankara.

CEO of Colony Capital Tom Barrack speaks on the last day of the Republican National Convention, on July 21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Analysis

Tom Barrack, Trump's pick for Turkey ambassador, is good news for Erdogan

The US billionaire's close ties with the president-elect and a portfolio in dealmaking could provide room for improvement in Ankara-Washington ties, according to experts.

Ezgi Akin

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

Fighters with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) inspect damaged and abandoned military vehicles and equipment at the Qamishli international airport, formerly a joint Syrian-russian military base, in northeastern Syria's city of Qamishli on Dec. 9, 2024.

Syria’s Kurds faced with all-out war as Turkey, Sunni allies target Kobani

A day after the fall of the SDF-controlled town of Manbij, Turkish proxies advanced today toward the town of Kobani.

A fighter prepares mortar ammunition as Turkish-supported forces deploy on the Buwayhij-Boughaz-Korhoyuk frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria, as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sept. 6, 2023.

Syria’s Kurds under opposition assault as Erdogan vows to protect Turkey from 'terror'

Clashes are intensifying as Turkey-backed forces push up against Kurdish fighters.

Syrians who lives in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on Dec. 9, 2024.

Turkey to reopen crossing for returning Syrians as Erdogan hails rebel victory

The Turkish president pledges support for reconstruction as the victory by opposition groups bolster efforts to re

Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister, Hakan Fidan delivers a press conferense after his meeting with his Greek counterpart in Athens, on November 8, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)

With Assad gone, Turkey urges Syrian opposition to unite, warns against PKK

The top Turkish diplomat struck a composed tone following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and called for unity among the Syrian opposition.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses media during a joint press conference with German Chancellor after their meeting at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul on Oct. 19, 2024.

As Turkey weighs next steps in Syria, Erdogan says target is Damascus

Rapid rebel advances in Syria have shifted negotiations between Turkey, Iran and Russia to whether the Syrian government will survive.

This combination of file photographs created on July 7, 2024, shows Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) in Ankara on May 29, 2023, and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on July 16, 2023.

Turkey’s Erdogan ups rhetoric, says Assad must ‘urgently engage' with rebels

Erdogan is urging the Syrian government to urgently launch a dialogue with rebels in a bid to end the civil war after insurgents captured Hama.

STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey ends probe into Meta over Threads data sharing

Turkey's Competition Board has ended its investigation on Meta after the company agreed to new data-sharing terms for Threads.

A militant poses for a picture after anti-government fighters seized Syrian army military equipment and vehicles that were abandoned on the highway to Damascus, as they reach the town of Suran north of Syria's Hama city on Dec. 3, 2024.

Turkey’s Erdogan urges Assad to engage rebels as Fidan readies for talks with Iran, Russia

Turkey's president held calls on Syria with his Russian counterpart and Iraq's prime minister, while the top Turkish diplomat is expected to meet with his Russian and Iranian counterparts for three-party talks.

Jihadists drive on the international M5 highway in the area Zarbah which was taken over by anti-government fighters on November 29, 2024, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and allied factions continue their offensive in Syria's northern Aleppo province against government forces.

Analysis

What's ahead for HTS as Syria, Russia strike back and Turkey plots next move?

The Syrian government claims to have repelled the HTS advance on Hama, but pro-rebel sources claim the opposite.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture