Russia conducted one of its most powerful attacks on the terrorists in Syria. The Russian military destroyed facilities where foreign private military contractors were training militants. At the same time, it is reported that the Iskander-M complex was used against them for the first time.
Tag: Turkey
Stoltenberg Announces Mediation Between Turkey, Greece
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Thursday that the leaders of Turkey and Greece had agreed to continue their NATO-led talks and meetings after meeting with him. Turkey and Greece claim ownership of the oil and gas resources of the Eastern Mediterranean and have escalated into a military conflict in recent days.
Russia Expanding its Role in the Mediterranean
Russia is expected to change the policy to reflect the upcoming geopolitical conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean. It should be noted that Russia does not have a traditional or historical attachment to this conflict. However, the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque by Turkey impacted the Russian Orthodox Church and caused a wave of dissatisfaction.
Turkey Continues to Search for Gas in Mediterranean
On Tuesday, a Turkish naval official announced that the mission of the research vessel “Ascension Chief,” to explore for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean, will be extended until September 12th. Tensions with Turkey have prompted Greece to consider raising its arms costs.
Israel Regards Turkey as More Dangerous than Iran
Yossi Cohen, the head of the Mossad, has proclaimed that Turkey is more dangerous to Israel than Iran. According to the intelligence chief, Iran’s leadership is fragile, and its power can be contained through sanctions, intelligence sharing, and arbitrary raids. According to his statement, as revealed by The Times, dealing with Turkey is a complex affair.
Netanyahu Compromises – Coalition Government Time Extended
Benjamin Netanyahu accepted the compromise offered him and Likud to avoid a fourth election. Pushing back the deadline only kicks the budget crisis down the road as the two ruling parties are at loggerheads over key issues including judicial appointments and annexation of West Bank Settlements. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on television that he will not drag the country into a fourth election.
Ayatollah Khamenei Addresses Imports, Property Abroad
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei, said in a video meeting with members of President Hassan Rouhani’s government that the government should deal with the import of American luxury phones and the purchase of property abroad. He stressed that the return of currencies could have “logical reasons.”
Turkey Gas Reserves in Black Sea Estimated Value $ 65 Billion
Turkey has estimated the gas reserves found in the Black Sea at about $ 65 billion. This was stated by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Fatih Dönmez, reports Reuters. Experts clarify that the declared volumes of gas may be enough for the country for a short time. The country will use up 320 billion cubic meters in just six years on its own.
Erdogan Orders Former Church Conversion in Istanbul Into Mosque
Turkey decided to convert the Byzantine church in Istanbul, which was a former Greek Orthodox church, into a mosque. The decision comes about a month after the famous “Hagia Sophia” museum in Istanbul opened for prayer. Athens condemned the new move and considered it “another provocation against the faithful and the international community.”
Is Libya The Guinea Pig of the Aerial Combat?
Libya has been embroiled in a civil war. The conflict began to escalate in April 2019 in Lybia, when field Marshal Khalifa Haftar launched his campaign to capture the capital, Tripoli. With the support of foreign forces, including Egypt, France, and others, he felt quite confident opposing the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, supported by Turkey, Italy, and Qatar.
Germany Mediating Greece-Turkey Conflict
Tensions between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean over oil and gas resources are rising. Meanwhile, the announcement of French military reinforcements sent to the eastern Mediterranean, and France’s support for Greece, has exacerbated these tensions.
France Sends Military to Eastern Mediterranean
Amidst continuing tension between Turkey and Greece over gas exploration, France announced it was sending two fighters and two warships to the Eastern Mediterranean, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed that the “only solution” to resolving the conflict with Greece is dialogue.
Vultures Circling Beirut, What is Next for Lebanon?
Beirut is reeling from the horrendous, tragic explosion that occurred on August 4th. Thereafter, the Prime Minister resigned amid an investigation of the blast and failure to act previously. Furthermore, civil unrest and anger followed the explosion. There are over 1,000 injured in clashes with the police and the army.
Is Turkey on the Verge of Economic Collapse?
Turkey continues to experience tumultuous economic times. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been grandstanding on the world stage without having the funds to back such actions long term. Turkey took on the Syrian and Libyan conflicts. The reasoning is personal ambitions for Erdogan to restore the Ottoman Empire.
EU Punishes Violators of Libya’s Arms Embargo
Germany, France, and Italy have stepped up pressure on violators of the Libyan arms embargo. The three had previously threatened to punish violators of the embargo in mid-July, on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels. A list of Turkish, UAE, and Jordanian companies has been compiled.
What Will August Bring Around the Globe?
The Coronavirus continues to be on the forefront of the news around the world. Currently, there are over 19.5 million infected and over 724,000 deaths around the globe. The numbers continue to climb, with no cure in sight. Many labs are working tirelessly to create a vaccine and better utilize existing drugs to treat patients.
U.S. Accuses Russia of Sending Equipment to Libya
The U.S. military alleges that Russia has sent new military equipment to its mercenaries in the city of Sirte, in Libya. If the report is anything to go by, then Russia is in full violation of the embargo in force in the North African country. The information was released by the U.S. Army African Command (AFRICOM).
Turkey Holds First Muslim Prayers in Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosted the first Muslim prayer in 86 years on Friday. The prayer session was also graced by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Since the dawn of this Friday, a crowd of faithful gathered at the door of the imposing Haghia Sofia.
Greece on High Alert in Response to Turkey
According to a media report, Turkey and Greece were about to enter a military clash on Tuesday evening. The German newspaper Bild said that “the battleships were on their way [for battle], and warplanes were flying in the air before the rescue came from Germany.”
EU Threatens Sanctions on Libyan Meddlers
The leaders of three European countries threatened to impose sanctions on foreign powers that violate the arms embargo on the Libyan war parties. Although they have not named any country, their threat appears aimed at Turkey, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
Turkey Behing Armenia-Azerbaijan Flare Up?
On Sunday, tensions rose near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. As a result, people took to the streets in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, and even entered the parliament building. For Armenia, the once fought-over region of Nagorno-Karabakh is both a heavy burden and a symbol of valor and military spirit.
Germany Warns of New Refugee Crisis
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer called for more cooperation from European countries to better control the EU’s external borders. Without this cooperation, he says, “we may soon see a new wave of asylum seekers entering the European Union, which will be more severe than the 2015 crisis.”
EU Hits Turkey on Hagia Sophia, Drilling
In their first face-to-face meeting in several months, the European Union’s 27 foreign ministers discussed Turkey’s move on Hagia Sophia as one of the issues at the top of the agenda of their meeting. The EU foreign ministers were led by the EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell.
Pope Francis “Very Pained” Over Hagia Sophia
The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, announced today that he was “very distressed” by the conversion of the old basilica of Hagia Sophia into a mosque. The pontiff spoke after the Sunday prayer of the Angelus. “The sea carries my thoughts farther, to Istanbul. I’m thinking of Santa Sofia,” Pope Francis said.
Turkey Converts Hagia Sophia Back to Mosque
The 10th Chamber of the Turkish Council of State annulled a decision of the Council of Ministers, dated 24 November 1934, regarding the conversion of Hagia Sophia from a mosque to a museum, with the decision published on Friday. With that, Hagia Sophia will open to Muslim worship on Friday, July 24.
Russia, China, Veto UN Aid for Syria
Russia and China have vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution, which jeopardizes humanitarian aid for civilians in northwestern Syria. The draft resolution was prepared by Germany and Belgium, with the 13 other members of the Council giving their approval.
UN Accuses All Sides of War Crimes in Idlib
A UN report released today states that numerous war crimes, as well as crimes against humanity, were committed in the province of Idlib, northwest Syria. The crimes were said to have taken place during an offensive by the Bashar al-Assad government in the period between late 2019 and early 2020.
Death Toll in Turkish Explosion Rises to Six
The death toll from a fireworks factory explosion in Sakarya province, in northwest Turkey, has risen to six. The governor of Sakarya, Cetin Oktay, confirmed the two deaths, and added that the rescue team was still searching or one more person. He said that six people were still undergoing treatment, with one of them being in critical condition.
Will Russia Finally Destroy Turkey?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a statement in 2019 that the status of the Hagia Sophia could be changed from a museum in to a mosque. According to him, this would be in response to the United States’ recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan heights.
Fireworks Factory Explosion Kills Four in Turkey
At least four people have been killed in a fireworks factory explosion in Sakarya province in Turkey. According to authorities who confirmed the incident, 97 people were injured in the explosion. The noise from the blast was heard around 30 miles from the scene, sending dozens of people into panic.
Turkey Convicts Human Rights Activists of “Terrorism”
According to Amnesty International, a court in Istanbul on Friday sentenced Taner Kilic, the group’s former chairman in Turkey, to more than six years in prison for “membership in a terrorist group.” The court also convicted three other human rights activists, including Idil Eser, of charges of aiding a “terror group.”
Turkey Begins Khashoggi Murder Trial
A court in Istanbul has kicked off the trial of 20 Saudis today. They are accused by Turkish authorities of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Two of the accused are considered close associates to the heir to the Saudi Arabian throne, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Turkey Delays Decision on Hagia Sophia
The Council of State in Turkey is considering a request by several organizations to convert the former Hagia Sophia Church into a new mosque. Anatolia News Agency reported that the decision may be made within the next 15 days at the latest. The issue has raised a great deal of concern from abroad.
Maas, Cavusoglu Meet to Discuss Tourism
Turkey, and especially its coasts, attract tens of thousands of German tourists each year. Now the situation has changed with the prevalence of COVID-19. Turkey is on the list of countries the German Foreign Ministry has warned against visiting. Previously, nothing seemed to stop German tourists from going to the Turkish coast to spend their holidays.
Oxfam Blasts Greek Asylum System
Oxfam, in collaboration with the Greek Refugee Council, has published a report on the implications of the new Greek asylum law. According to the organization’s officials, the changes in the Greek asylum law practically mean violating the binding standards of European altruism.
Sudan Arrests “Mercenaries” En Route to Libya
Sudanese authorities announced that they had arrested 122 people who were on their way to Libya to “work as mercenaries,” according to the official SUNA news agency. The Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has long accused Sudanese mercenaries of supporting the forces of Khalifa Haftar.
Russia Waits as Turkey to Resume Operations in Idlib
According to Russian news outlet avia.pro, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that it is time for Turkey to actively continue its military operations in Syria’s Idlib province. The publication quoted him as saying that the Turkish military will continue to fight all “terrorist organizations” that pose a threat to Turkey’s security, whether inside its borders or outside them.
Sisi: Egypt Ready to Intervene in Libya
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirmed in a speech on Saturday, broadcast on Egyptian television, that Egypt’s direct entry into Libya “has become available to international legitimacy,” and involves goals. Sisi said this while inspecting the Egyptian army units in the western military zone.
Adieu, Turkey? Ankara Angers France Over Libya
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Turkey’s actions in Libya by the hands of militants transferred to the region threaten the European Union. Furthermore, France will not allow anyone to annex the Mediterranean Sea. The Head of the French Foreign Ministry said this in an interview with the French newspaper, La Croix.
Russia, Turkey, and Libya – What is their Strategy?
On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu flew to Turkey, and are holding meetings pertaining the situation in Libya. Since the overthrow and killing of the Libyan leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi, in 2011, Libya became a divided state.
Could China’s New Transport Corridor Be Used For Defense Purposes?
China has opened a new transport corridor to Uzbekistan bypassing Kazakhstan. It will be the first part of an international corridor from China to Europe without transit through Kazakhstan and Russia. Currently, the future of the relations between China and Russia are unclear. There have been calls by a Russian oligarch to investigate China not only for the coronavirus, but also for their environment violations.
Russian Mercenaries in Libya – Lists Are Here
Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi was murdered in 2011. There after, Libya became a divided state. Gaddafi, commonly known as Colonel Gaddafi, was a Libyan revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. Shortly after his death, it was announced that the war in Libya was over. In reality, the war mutated with a new trajectory.
Putin and Erdogan Plays “Syria Game” in Libya
The recent crackdown on rebel leader General Khalifa Haftar’s forces in Libya has made it increasingly clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to take over covert control of the country’s future. Turkey provides military assistance to support of the government in Tripoli, while Gen. Haftar’s army has several thousand Russian “mercenaries.”
Renault Lays Off Employees, Turkey Lays Taxes on Imports
French automaker Renault has announced that it will lay off 15,000 employees worldwide for an estimated €2 billion in savings, and 4,600 of the employees to be laid off are from France. It is stated that the rest will be from those working in the production centers of the company in other countries. Renault has nearly 180,000 employees in 39 countries.
Coronavirus — Turkey Fearful of Second Wave, Africa Least-Affected Region
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced 29 new deaths from COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the death toll in the country to 4,369. Koca also tweeted that 987 new cases had been confirmed, for a total of 157,814 in Turkey. The total number of patients who have recovered in Turkey has exceeded 120,000.
Coronavirus — New Cases in Turkey, New Programs in Ukraine
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced Friday that the number of coronavirus cases in Turkey increased by 1,708 over the previous 24 hours and the number of deaths by 48. That brings the total number of cases in the country to 146,457 and 4,055 deaths. Koca, however, said that conditions in the country were improving.
Coronavirus — Turkey Imposes 4-Day Curfew
A four-day curfew has started in 14 metropolitan cities in Turkey, including Zonguldak. The curfew will continue until the night of May 19. “Movement restriction will be applied again on May 16-17-18-19,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the cabinet meeting. A curfew was imposed in 31 cities for four days since April 23.
A Mystery at the World’s First Religious Temple Göbekli Tepe is Solved
A hidden geometric structure was found in the large-scale religious building of Göbekli Tepe, an archaeological site in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey approximately 12 km northeast of the city of Şanlıurfa. The tell has a height of 15 m and is about 300 m in diameter. It is approximately 760 m above sea level.
Turkey Intelligence Gathering in US and Canada Revealed
Nordic Monitor published classified information about surveillance operations by the Turkish intelligence services in the US and other nations around the globe. According to the documentation, the Turkish President has been authorizing intelligence operations to spy on critics of Turkey. The documentation seems to have a stamp from the Turkish government agency established in 2016 under the Turkish National Security Agenda.
Coronavirus: Syrian Refugee Shot Dead by Turkish Police
A 17-year-old Syrian refugee, who allegedly failed to comply with the country’s coronavirus curfew restrictions, was shot dead by police. Ali el Hemdan was returning home after work on Monday when the police arrested him on a routine check, according to several testimonies collected by a section of the nation’s local media.
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