Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

A crew of Turkish rescuers began an in-depth search of Syria’s notorious Sednaya prison on Monday, a spokesperson for the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said. Located just north of Damascus, the prison has become a symbol of human rights abuses of the Assad clan, especially since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011. The AFAD said it had sent a team of nearly 80 people to conduct a search-and-rescue operation to “find people thought to be trapped in Sednaya military prison”, with its director due to give a press conference outside the prison about its mission, spokesperson Kubilay…

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will travel to Ethiopia and Somalia early next year after brokering a deal to end nearly yearlong tensions between the Horn of Africa nations. “I will visit Ethiopia and Somalia in the first two months of the new year,” Erdoğan said Sunday at an event with the youth in the eastern province of Erzurum. He referred to the deal between Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Ankara on Dec. 11. The pair agreed to end their nearly yearlong bitter dispute after hours of talks brokered by Erdoğan, who hailed the…

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that a total of 7,621 Syrian nationals returned to their country after the fall of the Assad regime, a happy occasion for millions who suffered under the oppressive regime. Yerlikaya announced daily figures on X for Syrians returning “voluntarily, safely, honorably,” and in an orderly manner from Türkiye before the regime’s fall, with 310 on Dec. 6, 176 on Dec. 7 and 240 on Dec. 8. He said this number rose to 1,259 on Dec. 9 and gradually increased, consistently above 1,000, until Dec. 13. The minister said they adhered to a migration management…

Türkiye’s national football team has landed in Group E for the FIFA 2026 World Cup European qualifiers, facing a challenging lineup that includes the winner of the Netherlands-Spain UEFA Nations League quarterfinal clash, Georgia and Bulgaria. The draw, conducted at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, placed Türkiye in the second seeding pot. Representing the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) were President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, Vice President Ceyhun Kazancı and head coach Vincenzo Montella, among others. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the upcoming tournament as “one of the greatest World Cups ever,” while UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin expressed hope for the participation of Europe’s…

The French Ligue 1 Disciplinary Committee has ruled that Kylian Mbappe’s 55 million euro ($58 million) claim against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for unpaid wages and bonuses is “unacceptable,” effectively dismissing the case in favor of the club. The dispute stems from the summer of 2024, when Mbappe, having opted not to renew his contract with PSG, instead signed with Real Madrid. Shortly after, he filed a legal claim demanding millions of euros for unpaid salaries and bonuses. Both the French Football Federation and the Professional Football League had initially sided with Mbappe, agreeing to the payout. However, PSG contested the…

Başakşehir ended their winless streak in the UEFA Conference League with a vital 3-1 victory over Germany’s Heidenheim on Thursday This win made them the only Turkish team to secure maximum points in Europe, as Galatasaray, Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe all faltered at critical moments. The Istanbul side took early control, with Deniz Türüç finding the net in the 6th minute. Miguel Crespo doubled the lead in the 18th minute, capitalizing on a rebound after Krzysztof Piatek’s header was blocked by the goalkeeper. Crespo’s goal marked his first in European competition this season, pushing Başakşehir to a commanding 2-0 lead. Heidenheim…

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan late Thursday received U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Ankara for talks focused on a critical aspect of establishing stability in Syria after the overthrow of brutal dictator Bashar Assad. The meeting at the Esenboğa Airport was also attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the president’s Chief Advisor Akif Çağatay Kılıç and Communications Director Fahrettin Altun. Blinken arrived after visiting Jordan on his first trip to the region since opposition forces toppled Assad following a 12-day lightning offensive that marked one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations. NATO allies Washington…

Top diplomats from numerous Western and Arab nations will land in Jordan over the weekend to attend a Syria crisis summit, following the ouster of longtime dictator Bashar Assad, Amman’s foreign ministry announced Thursday. The Saturday gathering “to discuss developments in Syria” will include foreign ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Qatar. They will also convene with their Turkish and U.S. counterparts, the EU’s foreign policy chief and the U.N. envoy for Syria, the statement said. Opposition forces toppled Assad following a 12-day lightning offensive that marked one of the biggest…

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, who arrived in Ankara late Thursday, acknowledged that the PKK terrorist group is “an enduring threat” to Türkiye, as he welcomed the country’s mediation efforts between Ethiopia and Somalia. Blinken, speaking on a visit to Jordan, warned that it is important to make sure that additional conflicts are not created in Syria. He said he would discuss the PKK/YPG with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He is expected to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on Friday. The PKK/YPG, which enjoyed freedom of movement in Syria under the Assad regime, feels the heat from…

Fireworks and drone displays depicting the iconic golden World Cup trophy lit up the Riyadh skyline Wednesday night as Saudi Arabia officially secured the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The announcement, though expected, marked a significant milestone in the kingdom’s ambitions to establish itself as a global sports powerhouse. A speech by President of FIFA Gianni Infantino is broadcasted on a screen during a ceremony, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11, 2024. (AFP Photo) Pride and celebration Despite Saudi Arabia being the sole candidate since last year, the formal confirmation by FIFA spurred grand celebrations across the Gulf…