Author: Daily Sabah
Ankara on Tuesday hosted Masrour Barzani, prime minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Barzani first met Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan before the two held a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex. Barzani’s visit comes at a time of a new phase in Türkiye’s fight against the PKK terrorist group, whose last remaining strongholds are located in an area controlled by the KRG in northern Iraq and northeastern Syria bordering Türkiye. Türkiye often carries out counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq against the PKK and saw escalating support from the KRG in recent years, after past hostilities…
The main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), on Tuesday voiced tentative support for the recent initiative to end PKK terrorism in Türkiye. “Such a process should be based at Parliament, which would steer and supervise it,” CHP leader Özgür Özel told reporters in Ankara after receiving lawmakers from the PKK-linked Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). Tuesday’s talks were the latest in a string of meetings DEM Party lawmakers Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan have held since meeting jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in the prison on Imralı Island near Istanbul. Önder and Buldan, accompanied by Ahmet…
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who shook Turkish politics with his unusual offer to end PKK terrorism, renewed commitment to his “terror-free Türkiye” initiative endorsed by the government. The outspoken nationalist leader allied with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) announced, “Times have changed and chains are broken,” as he addressed fellow lawmakers at the parliamentary group meeting of the MHP in the capital, Ankara, on Tuesday. Bahçeli on Jan. 2 hosted a delegation from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in an unprecedented meeting with his political rivals. The meeting was…
The push for change at Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has led to the replacement of 47 provincial chairs since last year as part of the party’s congress process that aims for extensive overhauls following unprecedented losses in the March 31 local polls in 2024. The party’s chair, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, kickstarted the congresses in southeastern Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep provinces, in October 2024, which were hit by the deadly twin earthquakes of Feb. 3, 2023. The events are meant to promote Erdoğan’s post-election message that focused on “change” within the party, both in its cadres and…
The latest official figures show that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) retains the highest number of members since it came to power over two decades ago. The party is part of a growing list of 168 parties officially registered by the General Prosecution Office of the Supreme Court of Appeal. The office oversees the approval and closure of parties and recently updated its list of active parties in Turkish politics. The AK Party has more than 11.1 million members, ahead of its main rival, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has more than 1.5 million members.…
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick aims to capture the first silverware of his tenure this week in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, but the ongoing Dani Olmo registration saga looms large. Real Madrid, the defending Spanish and European champions, are favorites to retain their title after thrashing Barcelona 4-1 in last season’s final. Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao, however, will challenge Barcelona in Wednesday’s first semi-final, eager to win their first Super Cup since 2021. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid face Real Mallorca in Thursday’s second semi, with the final set for Sunday at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in…
Twenty-two out of 37 wanted suspects were detained on Tuesday in operations against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ). The suspects were apprehended as part of an investigation by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in the capital Ankara about a network of companies linked to the terrorist group that was behind a 2016 coup attempt. The suspects are accused of funding the group. They were identified through statements of former FETÖ members who collaborated with authorities, financial investigations and investigations of digital evidence seized in previous investigations. Authorities said suspects supplied cash both to FETÖ members imprisoned for their links to the…
Twenty-two out of 37 wanted suspects were detained on Tuesday in operations against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ). The suspects were apprehended as part of an investigation by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in the capital Ankara about a network of companies linked to the terrorist group that was behind a 2016 coup attempt. The suspects are accused of funding the group. They were identified through statements of former FETÖ members who collaborated with authorities, financial investigations and investigations of digital evidence seized in previous investigations. Authorities said suspects supplied cash both to FETÖ members imprisoned for their links to the…
In a pivotal moment for the new initiative to convince the PKK terrorist group to lay down arms, the PKK-linked Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Monday met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the capital Ankara. AK Party Deputy Chair Efkan Ala, Group Chair Abdullah Güler and spokesperson Ömer Çelik welcomed DEM Party’s Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan for a landmark meeting a week after the pair visited the PKK’s jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan. The pair were accompanied by Ahmet Türk, a veteran politician who served as mayor of…
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has eliminated two top PKK terrorists preparing in northern Iraq for an attack on Türkiye, security sources said Monday. The two terrorists, identified as Zeynep Aslan, code-named “Mitra Mani,” and Zeliha Mahçup, code-named “Ekin Dilda,” were eliminated in a precision strike in Iraq’s Hakurk region, sources said. Aslan and Mahçup were serving the PKK’s armed women’s branch, according to security sources, who said the pair were wanted on charges of terrorism. They were trained to conduct attacks on strategic targets inside Türkiye. MIT placed the two terrorists under surveillance after its field agents discovered the…