Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

Türkiye expects that many of the 3 million Syrian refugees it’s currently housing will quicken their return if anti-regime groups hold the city of Aleppo, which they wrested from Damascus last week. But Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya cautioned the time may not yet be ripe for large-scale population movements to Aleppo. “We know those from Aleppo love Aleppo very much. We meet them and they are extremely enthusiastic,” Yerlikaya said Wednesday. “But to those who say they wish to go back now we say, ‘Wait, it’s not safe for the moment,’” said Yerlikaya. “Everyone hopes to return to their homeland…

Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe will come to loggerheads on Saturday in a Süper Lig clash that promises to ignite the passion of fans and decide the next chapter in both teams’ seasons. After a rough patch with five consecutive matches without a win, Beşiktaş is looking to bounce back with a victory over their bitter rivals. With recent struggles, the team hopes to lift the spirits of their supporters with a long-awaited derby win. However, the Black Eagles will be without Paulista, Uduokhai and Necip, as they continue their recovery from injuries. With Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s departure, Serdar Topraktepe will lead…

Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe will come to loggerheads on Saturday in a Süper Lig clash that promises to ignite the passion of fans and decide the next chapter in both teams’ seasons. After a rough patch with five consecutive matches without a win, Beşiktaş is looking to bounce back with a victory over their bitter rivals. With recent struggles, the team hopes to lift the spirits of their supporters with a long-awaited derby win. However, the Black Eagles will be without Paulista, Uduokhai and Necip, as they continue their recovery from injuries. With Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s departure, Serdar Topraktepe will lead…

Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe will come to loggerheads on Saturday in a Süper Lig clash that promises to ignite the passion of fans and decide the next chapter in both teams’ seasons. After a rough patch with five consecutive matches without a win, Beşiktaş is looking to bounce back with a victory over their bitter rivals. With recent struggles, the team hopes to lift the spirits of their supporters with a long-awaited derby win. However, the Black Eagles will be without Paulista, Uduokhai and Necip, as they continue their recovery from injuries. With Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s departure, Serdar Topraktepe will lead…

Hama stands in the way of anti-regime forces as they push to retake more cities from the Assad regime. Forces that captured Aleppo since last week’s launch of a lightning offensive encircled the key central city from three sides, a war monitor said, amid a counteroffensive by the Assad forces. Hama is strategically located in central Syria, and for the army, it is crucial to safeguard the capital and seat of power, Damascus. The anti-regime forces “have surrounded Hama city from three sides and are now present at a distance of 3 to 4 kilometers (1.9 to 2.5 miles) from…

The success of “Operation Dawn of Freedom” by the Syrian National Army (SNA) to capture Tal Rifaat from the terrorist group PKK/YPG may pave the way for seizing another hotbed of the group. Turkish media outlets reported that the Syrian opposition forces will likely move on to Manbij, a key city for PKK/YPG. Dawn of Freedom, which was launched simultaneously with an offensive by anti-regime forces toward Aleppo last week, cut off the terrorist group’s plan to link Tal Rifaat to Aleppo. Turkish broadcaster CNN Türk released footage of a convoy of SNA vehicles reportedly heading to Manbij, which was…

Novak Djokovic will kick off his 2025 season at the Brisbane International, aiming to secure his 11th Australian Open title. The Serbian legend, now coached by long-time rival Andy Murray, will start his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam, after a challenging 2024 where he failed to add to his tally, despite winning Olympic singles gold in Paris. The Brisbane event, set for Dec. 29 through Jan. 5, serves as the prelude to the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 12. Djokovic expressed his excitement, looking forward to the electric atmosphere at Pat Rafter Arena. “I’m thrilled to start…

Two captains face Premier League disciplinary action for refusing to participate in the league’s Rainbow Laces campaign. As part of the league’s Rainbow Laces initiative, 20 Premier League clubs were provided rainbow-colored armbands for their captains to wear during weekend and midweek matches. However, Ipswich Town’s Sam Morsy, a British-born Egyptian international and practicing Muslim, chose not to wear the armband during matches against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. Morsy’s decision, Ipswich confirmed, was rooted in his religious beliefs. While the club expressed respect for Morsy’s choice, it reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment, stating, “We will continue…

Almost a week after they launched their lightning offensive, Syrian anti-regime forces are now “at the gates of Hama,” a war monitor said. Hama is the war-torn country’s fourth-largest city and its fall will likely mark a decisive moment for anti-regime forces, which already captured the second key city, Aleppo, in the first chapter of their offensive. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that clashes between anti-regime forces and the Assad regime troops sparked a large wave of displacement. The sudden flare-up in the more than decade-old civil war in Syria drew appeals for de-escalation from across…

Türkiye supports Syria’s territorial integrity, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as the two leaders spoke over the phone on Tuesday. Erdoğan discussed Türkiye-Russia ties, and recent developments in Syria with President Putin, the Presidential Communications Directorate said. He emphasized that while supporting Syria’s territorial integrity, Türkiye strives for a permanent solution to the Syrian crisis, as he said the Assad regime must also be engaged in a political solution. Erdoğan told the Russian leader that Syria should not become a source of greater instability in the region. Türkiye will continue to maintain its determined stance…