EXPLAINED: 7 | Rare Historical Photos

Putin Hosts Assad, Expected to Focus on Rebuilding Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in the Kremlin for talks expected to focus on rebuilding Syria after a devastating civil war and mending Damascus' ties with Türkiye. Welcoming Assad at the start of the meeting that comes on the anniversary of Syria’s 12-year uprising-turned-civil…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 15, 2023

UN Seeks Extension of Key Ukraine-Russia Wartime Grain Deal

Senior UN officials hosted Russian envoys in Geneva on Monday in a bid to extend an export agreement amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and prevent a potential new spike in world food prices. The United Nations and Türkiye brokered a deal between the two warring countries in July that allows…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 13, 2023

Türkiye Summons US Ambassador Over Chief of Staff's Visit to Northern Syria

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned US ambassador Jeff Flake over the visit over the weekend of a top US general to areas controlled by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), where US forces are also deployed, in northeastern Syria. On Saturday, US Joint Chiefs Chair Army General Mark…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 7, 2023

Türkiye Establishes Presence in Syria with 10,000 Soldiers, Dozens of Military Bases

For the past months, Turkish armed forces in northwestern Syria de-escalation zones have carried out redeployment and mergers at military points that were established under a Turkish-Russian agreement in 2017. According to an agreement within the framework of the Astana talks, Türkiye gained the opportunity to expand its deployment of…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 4, 2023

In Line with Russian Understanding, Türkiye Withdraws from Checkpoint on Syria’s M4 Highway

Turkish forces have started withdrawing from a military checkpoint south of the M4 highway connecting Syria’s Aleppo and Latakia governorates in preparation of the implementation of Russian-Turkish agreements. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkish forces moved cement blocks from the Turkish checkpoint in Qaston town in the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 3, 2023

Türkiye Inflation Higher than Expected at Nearly 58%

Turkish annual inflation dipped to 57.68% in January, official data showed on Friday, but was well above forecasts despite a favorable base effect that is expected to carry on until President Tayyip Erdogan seeks re-election in May. Month-on-month, consumer prices rose 6.65%, the Turkish Statistical Institute said, nearly twice a…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 3, 2023

Kurdish Officials: Rockets Hit Turkish Base in Northern Iraq

A cluster of rockets targeted a Turkish military base in northern Iraq on Wednesday, officials from northern Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region said. An Iranian-backed militia promptly claimed responsibility for the attack. A Turkish defense ministry official said there was no damage or injury at the base but did not provide…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 1, 2023

Türkiye Prepared to Hand over Syrian Regions under its Control to Regime

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed on Thursday that his country was prepared to hand over Syrian regions under its control to the Syrian regime “should political stability be established.” Speaking to the press, he stressed that Türkiye has repeatedly said it was ready to hand over power in areas…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 30, 2022

US Does Not Want to See Military Operations in Northwest Syria

The United States does not want Türkiye to pursue military attacks in northwest Syria, even if it recognizes Türkiye’s right to defend itself, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday. Türkiye has ramped up its shelling and air strikes on northern Syria in recent weeks and has…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 7, 2022

Thousands Protest Turkish Strikes on Kurdish Groups in Syria

Thousands of Kurds protested on Sunday in the Syrian city of Qamishli against days of deadly Turkish cross-border strikes targeting Kurdish groups in the country's northeast. Türkiye announced last Sunday it had carried out air strikes against semi-autonomous Kurdish zones in north and northeastern Syria, and across the border in…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Nov 28, 2022