All articles tagged with #turkey
Turkish President Erdogan said Turkey will not abandon its regional partners or let outsiders dictate its course, amid Israeli strikes on a Syrian airbase and tensions over Ankara’s presence in Syria. He denied any hidden agenda or plans to deploy air defences there, while the US urged a trilateral mechanism to ease friction and Ankara pursued Interpol Red Notices for Netanyahu over the Gaza flotilla incident.
The United States is mediating amid rising tensions after Israel's strike on the Abu al-Duhur base in Syria, urging restraint and dialogue among Israel, Turkey, and Syria while reaffirming Israel's right to defend itself and Syria's sovereignty. Washington says it remains in contact with all three countries through multiple channels and is facilitating talks, including a meeting between Mossad chief Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Jordan, to prevent wider confrontation as Israeli activity continues in southern Syria.
The European Court of Human Rights warned that Turkish courts face a systemic problem in Osman Kavala’s detention and urged his immediate release, highlighting ongoing concerns about due process amid a lengthy case.
Iran has reportedly received an official invitation to join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement—signed by Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia—with Tehran saying the invitation is under consideration; if Tehran joins, the bloc would broaden its mutual-defence framework amid regional tensions. Bangladesh has floated joining, and the pact has drawn attention after U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the agreement when it was signed.
A U.S. envoy said Israel did not warn the United States before a Syria-based airstrike, as reports surfaced of Turkish delegation visits to the base and mounting regional tensions involving Israel, the U.S., Turkey, and Syria.
Israel conducted a drone strike targeting a vehicle near Beit Jinn in Syria’s Damascus countryside, injuring a civilian; Damascus condemned the attack as a sovereignty violation. Israel said it hit a terrorist in southern Syria. US envoy Tom Barrack suggested the earlier Abu al-Duhur airbase strike could have been intended to bait Turkey before Israel’s elections and said Washington was not warned. The strikes reflect ongoing Israeli operations in Syria and broader tensions over Turkish military presence, drawing regional condemnation.
US envoy Tom Barrack says Israel did not warn the United States before its strikes on Syria’s Abu Duhur base, calling the action an “unnecessary escalation,” while Israeli officials say intelligence was shared with authorized US parties; the dispute underscores tensions with Turkey and comes as Washington seeks de-escalation in the region.
A senior US diplomat, Tom Barrack, suggested Israel’s airstrike on a Syrian air base could be a calculated move to bait Turkey into a conflict ahead of Israel’s October elections, while noting there were no Turkish assets at the site; Israel’s defense minister disputed Barrack’s characterization, asserting intelligence supported taking action against potential Turkish operations, and Washington’s comments underscore fraught Turkey-Israel-Syria dynamics and the risk of broader escalation.
Turkey says it will seek Interpol red notices to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an Israeli soldier in a case accusing them of genocide, crimes against humanity and torture linked to the interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla; Israel denies the charges, and Ankara says it will pursue accountability under international law as Interpol reviews the request.
Syrian Foreign Minister says Damascus has no plans to host Turkish forces at the Abu al-Duhur airbase after an Israeli strike, noting Turkish officials visited only for training; Ankara denies any permanent deployment and Syria says de-escalation talks must address security concerns for both sides.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told Erdoğan not to test Israel’s resolve after an Israeli strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Airbase, as the U.S. works on a trilateral deconfliction mechanism among Turkey, Israel, and Syria to prevent a broader clash amid rising regional tensions and ongoing NATO dynamics.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani told Axios that Damascus did not plan to host a Turkish base at Abu al-Duhur and that Israel’s strike—damaging refurbished runways—was unjustified; Turkish officers had visited for training, but there was no Turkish buildup. Israel said the attack aimed to prevent such a buildup, while Syria insists the base was largely empty and not fully operational. The interview also notes US-mediated security talks with Israel, Syria’s push for de-escalation and sovereignty, and that Trump was briefed but did not publicly criticize the strike.
Israel launched a strike on Syria's Abu al-Duhur airbase to deter a Turkish military buildup near Aleppo; U.S. and Israeli officials say the aim was to prevent Turkish weapon shipments and avert escalation, with no casualties reported. Israel initially kept silent, then claimed responsibility, while Turkey denied Turkish involvement. The White House voiced deep concern about the escalation, underscoring ongoing strain among allies and the fragile balance of U.S.-Israel-Turkey ties. Some officials think timing may relate to Israel's October election, and discussions of a joint Jordan-based coordination center have not been activated.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a NATO-style security pact framed as a Muslim NATO that signals a regional realignment and reduced U.S. sway, with three major powers sharing defence burdens amid tensions with Israel and Iran; experts say it marks a pragmatic shift rather than a direct challenge to Washington.
Trump aide Natalie Harp—long described as the president’s “human printer” who drafts Truth Social posts—has a new nickname, described by Maggie Haberman, after reports she was among a small group that secretly accompanied Trump on a decoy Air Force One transfer in Turkey en route to RAF Mildenhall, highlighting her close, multi-faceted role alongside Walt Nauta and Dan Scavino.