Author: Akpulat Erentoz

Turkey launched its first amphibious assault ship on Monday, aiming to extend its drone capabilities from land-based to naval operations amid increased regional tensions as war rages in Ukraine on the other side of the Black Sea. The TCG Anadolu can handle only light aircraft, chiefly helicopters and jets that can take off from shorter runways. It is 232 meters long and 32 meters wide, and can carry some 1,400 personnel – one battalion of soldiers – combat vehicles and support units to operate overseas. “This vessel will allow us to conduct military and humanitarian operations in every corner of the world, when…

The European Commission is helping the United Nations and Turkey try to extend a deal allowing the Black Sea export of Ukraine grain – that could expire on Monday – and is open to “explore all solutions,” a European Union spokesperson said on Thursday. The EU is considering connecting a subsidiary of the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the international payment network SWIFT to allow for grain and fertilizer transactions, sources familiar with discussions told Reuters on Wednesday. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that Moscow allow the Black Sea grain deal to…

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani announced on Tuesday that Iraq and Iran signed a deal to end the Iranian gas supply crisis to support electricity production in the country. In a televised speech on the official Iraqiya channel, al-Sudani said the two countries agreed that Iraq would supply black oil to Iran in exchange for gas. “Iranian gas supply has resumed, and the quantities will increase, starting this evening, when 10 million cubic meters will be pumped, and the supply will return to the same previous level,” he said. Al-Sudani attributed the gas crisis with Iran to the U.S.…

Türkiye is facing a terror threat on its border with Syria and has the right to defend itself, the White House said on Nov. 22. “Turkey does continue to suffer a legitimate terrorist threat, particularly to their south. They certainly have every right to defend themselves,” coordinator for strategic communications, John Kirby, told reporters. He said the U.S. has concerns about cross-border operations, which he said would affect the fight against the ISIL terror group carried out by another terror organization, PKK/YPG. The operations “might force a reaction by our SDF partners, that would constrain their ability to fight against ISIL,” Kirby said. Türkiye…

World leaders have expressed their condolences to Türkiye following the explosion on Istanbul’s famous İstiklal Avenue that claimed the lives of six people. “On my own behalf and the Azerbaijani people, I express my deepest condolences to the brotherly people of Turkey and the families and relatives of the victims and wish healing to the wounded,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also shared a message on Twitter. “The U.S. strongly condemns the act of violence that took place today in Istanbul, Türkiye. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and our deepest condolences go to…

Police have arrested a suspect who is believed to have planted the bomb that killed six people and wounded 81 others on a bustling pedestrian avenue in Istanbul, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Nov. 14. “Our assessment is that the order for the deadly terror attack came from Ayn al-Arab in northern Syria, where the PKK/YPG has its Syrian headquarters,” said Soylu. The bomber has been identified as Syrian national Ahlam Albashir. The suspects would have been smuggled to Greece if they had not been caught, Soylu informed, saying, “We have no more power to tolerate treachery.” Turkish television broadcast footage…

Russian soldiers are forcing Ukrainian civilians from their apartments in the occupied capital of the Kherson region and moving in themselves, a resident said on Nov. 4 as the southern city became a growing focus of war in Ukraine. His account of soldiers spreading throughout the city of Kherson suggested that Russiacould be preparing for intense urban warfare in anticipation of Ukrainian advances.Russia-installed authorities in Kherson continued to urge civilians to leave the city, which lies on the western bank of the Dnieper River and has been cut off from supplies and food by Ukrainian bombardment. Kirill Stremousov, the deputy head of the region’s Kremlin-appointed…

The Irani Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday condemned the E3 group of Britain, France and Germany for their “failure to honor their obligations” under a 2015 nuclear deal. Kanaani made the remarks at a weekly press conference in the capital Tehran in response to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council last week, the official news agency IRNA reported. At the meeting, the European states, as well as the United States, accused Iran of sending drones to Russia for use against Ukraine and expressed concern over Tehran’s “increased stockpile of enriched uranium beyond the limits set by…

Iran reaffirmed on Wednesday that it holds Israel accountable for the abduction of four Iranians in Lebanon more than four decades ago. The Iranians were abducted on July 4, 1982 when Lebanon was occupied by Israel, but under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the occupying party is responsible for protecting the lives and property of the people in the occupied country, the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement published on its website to mark the anniversary of the kidnapping incident. Iran demands the international and human rights bodies fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities to hold Israel accountable for the…

The government is doing everything to put an end to mine accidents, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said as he inspected and coordinated the rescue operation at the coal mine in Bartın province that claimed the lives of 41 workers and injured several dozens. “We do everything in our power in order to bury mine accidents in history by employing all the means of technology and all the instruments of business administration. I believe that our domestic and national capabilities will be sufficient to enable us to implement the necessary structural transformation in this issue,” Erdoğan said while paying a visit to Bartın on…