Latest Turkey government News

Secretary of State Blinken is returning to the Mideast in his latest diplomatic foray

Dec. 11, 2024 08:21 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East this week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in the region now wracked by three...

Boosting Cyprus' defense is key so close to the war-wracked Mideast, defense minister says

Dec. 10, 2024 11:58 AM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Bolstering Cyprus ' defense capacity is critical for the east Mediterranean island nation so close to the war-wrecked Middle East, the country's defense minister said Tuesday. The priority for Cyprus is to procure better defense systems, said Defense Minister...

Assad’s downfall is a humbling blow to Russia. How will it affect Putin's prestige?

Dec. 09, 2024 14:15 PM EST

Almost exactly seven years ago, President Vladimir Putin stood with Russian troops at their air base in Syria and proudly declared victory over “terrorists” in that country as part of the Kremlin’s military intervention to prop up the government of Bashar Assad amid a civil war. ...

Turkish military helicopters collide in midair, killing 6 military personnel

Dec. 09, 2024 06:59 AM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Two Turkish military helicopters collided in midair on Monday, causing one of them to crash and killing six military personnel on board, officials said. The second helicopter landed safely. Five of the victims died at the site of the accident while a sixth...

Where Turkey stands as Syrian government falls to opposition insurgents

Dec. 08, 2024 07:13 AM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Syrian refugees across Turkey jubilantly welcomed the downfall of Bashar Assad’s government Sunday, with many embracing the chance to return to their homeland. Large crowds waving Syrian and Turkish flags gathered in the main square of Kilis, a border city...

NYC's mayor warms to Trump and doesn't rule out becoming a Republican

Dec. 06, 2024 17:38 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears open to switching parties to become a Republican, as he declined to rule out a future change in political allegiances during a pair of interviews Friday that came as he has increasing warmed to President-elect Donald Trump. The...

Thousands flee as Syrian insurgents advance to the doorstep of the country's third-largest city

Dec. 06, 2024 17:30 PM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs, the country’s third largest, as insurgents seized two towns on the outskirts Friday, positioning themselves for an assault on a potentially major prize in their march against President Bashar Assad. The move,...

Syrian insurgents capture four central towns as government forces reclaim some territory

Dec. 04, 2024 00:37 AM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian insurgents captured four new towns early Tuesday, bringing them closer to the central city of Hama, opposition activists said, while government forces retook some territory they lost last week. The new push came as Turkey's president — whose country is a main...

Turkey calls for reconciliation between Syrian government and the opposition to end conflict

Dec. 02, 2024 22:38 PM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The recent rapid advance by opposition fighters in Syria shows that Syrian President Bashar Assad must reconcile with his own people and hold talks with the opposition, the Turkish foreign minister said Monday. At a joint news conference in Ankara with his...

Protests lay bare a clash of values and interests as Georgia navigates a Russia-West standoff

Dec. 02, 2024 21:47 PM EST

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgia is convulsed by political upheaval again after its pro-Moscow government, fresh off parliamentary elections denounced as rigged by its critics, decided to suspend negotiations for the small former Soviet republic to join the European Union. The...