Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

Türkiye is opening a border gate on the southern frontier with Syria to manage the safe and voluntary return of the millions of Syrian refugees it hosts, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday, after the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar Assad. Speaking at a news conference following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdoğan reaffirmed Ankara was ready to support Syria’s rebuilding in any way it can. In one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, opposition forces seized the Syrian capital, Damascus, and Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war and more…

Syria has entered a “new era” after anti-regime forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar Assad in a lightning advance, Türkiye said Monday, pledging unwavering support for the Syrian people at a time of uncertainty. “We expect international actors, especially the United Nations, to reach out to the Syrian people and support the establishment of an inclusive administration,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a speech to ambassadors in the Turkish capital. He emphasized that it has always been stated from the outset that a permanent solution, peace, and stability in Syria can only be achieved through national reconciliation. Recalling that the…

Syrian nationals who took shelter in Türkiye after fleeing the regime attacks in their country, celebrated on Sunday the apparent end of Assad as anti-regime forces captured Damascus. From a historic district of Istanbul to a town on the border with Syria, celebrations were ubiquitous in the Syrian refugee community living in Türkiye. In Istanbul’s Fatih, a hub for refugees who set up businesses there after fleeing Syria, the community gathered at a historic mosque for morning prayers. After the prayers, they convened in the courtyard, chanting God is Great in celebration. In nearby streets, some Syrian nationals formed convoys…

Security sources said on Sunday the Syrian National Army (SNA) of the opposition now controls 80% of Manbij, a stronghold of the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian wing YPG. The SNA recently launched Operation Dawn of Freedom to weed out the terrorist group from territories it seized in northeastern Syria. Tal Rifaat was liberated from terrorists in late November. Sources said the SNA, advancing through northern and western parts of Manbij, entered the central town, which has been occupied by the terrorists since 2016. Residents of Manbij have joined the efforts, rising up against the terror group and rescuing prisoners held…

Türkiye, Iran, Russia and five Arab countries on Saturday urged a political solution in Syria to stop military operations there and protect civilians. In a joint statement released by the countries’ foreign ministers after they met in Doha, they said the crisis in Syria posed a threat to regional and international security. The call was also echoed by U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen. He called for urgent political talks in Geneva to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, urging immediate action to address the ongoing crisis in Syria. “The situation is changing by the minute. So when…

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Thursday warned against the recent military armament efforts of its neighbor in the south after the Greek Cypriot administration took delivery of an Israeli air defense system. “We have persistently expressed for a long time that the support from the U.S. administration to the Greek Cypriot administration under the guise of strategic partnership and its military cooperation with Israel and France pose the risk of upending the delicate balances in the region,” the TRNC’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Cyprus was split in Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power after…

On Thursday, the rich tradition of Turkish coffee was celebrated worldwide in various events, highlighting its cultural significance while also promoting Türkiye’s heritage. From the United States to the Asia-Pacific region, the day was marked with numerous activities showcasing the deep cultural roots of this iconic beverage. Turkish coffee, recognized for its unique preparation and rich taste, was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2013, and since then, Dec. 5 has been officially recognized as “World Turkish Coffee Day.” In Washington, D.C., the Turkish Embassy hosted a grand celebration at the residence of Ambassador Sedat Önal, with…

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup when the Major League Soccer (MLS) side take on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the June 15 opener, the draw for the tournament revealed on Thursday. Brazilian team Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto complete Group A alongside Argentina World Cup winner Messi, whose Miami team were handed a spot by FIFA after finishing top of the regular season standings in MLS. Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Brazilian Neymar, will have a reunion with La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H. Twelve European clubs will…

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup when the Major League Soccer (MLS) side take on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the June 15 opener, the draw for the tournament revealed on Thursday. Brazilian team Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto complete Group A alongside Argentina World Cup winner Messi, whose Miami team were handed a spot by FIFA after finishing top of the regular season standings in MLS. Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Brazilian Neymar, will have a reunion with La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H. Twelve European clubs will…

Türkiye on Thursday reaffirmed its support for the protection of Syria’s territorial integrity and expressed its commitment toward stability in the country. The statement following the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) comes amid intensifying clashes and anti-regime forces’ lightning advance across northern Syria that last week saw them capture the commercial hub of Aleppo. They took the key city of Hama on Thursday, bringing them another major victory and dealing a new blow to the Assad regime and his Russian and Iranian allies. Chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the NSC said the latest developments in Syria “once…