Nach dem Sturz von Machthaber Assad ist noch vieles unsicher in Syrien. Am Rand seiner Ukraine-Reise hebt der CDU-Vorsitzende Merz die starke Rolle von Türkiye hervor. Die EU und Deutschland sollten gemeinsam mit Ankara die Region „befrieden“.
Archiv: Erdogan
Syria‘s Assad is in Moscow after deal on military bases: Russian state media
(December 9, 2024)
Syrian opposition leaders had agreed to guarantee the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions in Syria, the source told news agencies.
Qatar’s Syrian endgame
(December 4,2024)
One has to decide to what extent such notions as reconciliation, appeasement or friendship have any reliable meaning when dealing with Qatar or Turkey.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, with its well-known loyalty to both Turkey and Qatar, could not have moved its troops without Qatari instructions.
Funding for the Free Syrian Army is part of a budget allocated by Doha since the Qatari leadership decided to overthrow President Assad at the beginning of the civil war.
We have agreed on Syria. But why did Russia need to give in to Turkey?
Russia maintains its military bases and embassy in Syria after the overthrow of the government of Bashar al-Assad. The agreements with Turkey are obvious.
Turkey, Russia and Iran Meet in Doha Seeking Exit From Syria Chaos
Turkey‘s foreign minister will meet with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Doha on Saturday to try to find a solution to the renewed fighting in Syria and avoid chaos on its doorstep.
The three countries have been partners since 2017 in the Astana process seeking to end the civil war in Syria. This is despite the fact they have supported opposite sides on the battlefield.
Turkish-backed extremists ‚headed to Damascus‘ says Erdogan
“We do not want escalation to continue in the region,” the Turkish president claimed.
“Idlib, Hama, and Homs are in the hands of the Syrian opposition, and they are continuing towards Damascus. We extended our hand to Bashar al-Assad but he did not respond,” he added.
Aufständische in Aleppo: „Die Schwäche der Verbündeten Syriens genutzt“
Zum anderen dürfte das, was wir in Syrien sehen, der Hinweis auf eine etwas größer angelegte türkische Strategie sein. Ich vermute, dass die Türkei längerfristig große Teile von Nord- und Ostsyrien einer zumindest indirekten Kontrolle unterwerfen und damit vor allem das kurdische Autonomiegebiet im Nordosten Syriens in Schach halten oder sogar beseitigen will. Dort herrscht nämlich ein Ableger der türkischen PKK.
Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, nearby province in huge setback for Assad
(November 30,2024)
Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkey, which supports the rebels, had given a green light to the offensive. Turkish officials were not immediately available to comment on Saturday.
Turkish intelligence directing extremist offensive in northwest Syria: Report
(November 30, 2024)
Militants from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) currently invading Aleppo, Syria‘s second-largest city, are taking orders from Turkish intelligence, French news agency AFP reported on 30 November.
Putin ‚Letting Syrian Rebels Overthrow Assad‘: Ex-Trump Intel Chief
(November 30, 2024)
Russia appears to be „letting the Syrian rebels overthrow“ President Bashar al-Assad according to Richard Grenell, who served as acting director of National Intelligence for a time during Donald Trump‘s first administration.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Grenell, who had been tipped as a possible member of Trump‘s incoming administration, commented: „Russia seems to be letting the Syrian rebels overthrow Assad. Big. Time to play chess.“
SDF responds to HTS attack, “We will defend our people”
(November 27, 2024)
Shamî stated that the attack in Aleppo was planned and coordinated by the Turkish state. He said that, by using groups like HTS, the Turkish state is trying to prevent peace in Syria and “realise its long-term occupation plans”. According to Shamî, the attacks are being carried out step by step and in an organised manner.
Farhad Shamî said that the SDF’s primary goal is to protect the people and the region, adding, “No matter who plans what, our only duty is to ensure the defense of our people.”
Joint Statement by Iran, Russia and Turkey on the International Meeting on Syria in Astana 28-29 November 2018
5. Examined in details the situation in the Idlib de-escalation area and reaffirmed their determination to fully implement the Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-escalation Area of 17 September 2018. In this regard they expressed their concern with the ongoing violations of the ceasefire regime, and declared that, as guarantors of the ceasefire regime, they would step up their efforts to ensure observance with it, including by enhacing work of the Joint Iranian-Russian-Turkish Coordination Center. They stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire while underlining the necessity to continue effective fight against terrorism. They also emphasized that under no circumstances the creation of the above-mentioned de-escalation area should undermine the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic;
Syrian rebel groups take control in and around Aleppo
The offensive is led by Hayʼat Tahrir ash-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist opposition group backed by Turkey and designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.
On Friday, the rebels entered the old city of Aleppo and took over several key sites, including the historic citadel and the Umayyad Mosque, according to videos posted on social media.
Trump wants US troops out of Syria, says Robert F Kennedy Jr
(November 8, 2024)
Kennedy described Trump’s particular focus on the border between Syria and Türkiye.
„He said we have 500 men on the border of Syria and Türkiye, and a little encampment that was bombed. He said there‘s 750,000 troops in Türkiye. There‘s 250,000 militants in Syria. If they go up against each other, we‘re in the middle.“
According to Kennedy, Trump later asked his generals what would happen if a conflict broke out, to which they reportedly replied, „They‘re going to be cannon fodder.“
Trump’s response was decisive: „Get them out.“
Syrian rebels enter Aleppo for first time in eight years during shock offensive
Syrian armed rebels have entered Aleppo just three days into their surprise offensive, marking the first time they have set foot in the country’s second largest city since government forces recaptured the city in 2016.
Rebel forces launched a surprise attack this week, sweeping through several villages outside the city and reigniting conflict that had been largely static for years.
Biden says to push for Gaza war end with Egypt, Qatar, Turkey after Israel-Lebanon deal
Biden outlined his intention to cooperate with these partners to bring about an end to the war in Gaza, secure the release of captives held by Hamas, and ensure that Hamas relinquishes power.
Egypt, Qatar, and the US have spearheaded mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas since the war began on October 7, 2023.
Türkiye, Germany to resolve defence industry supply issues: Erdogan
„It is not difficult for Israel to acquire weapons and equipment, as they are being supplied to them in large quantities. With these resources, Israel continues its massacres in the region,“ he added.
The war has complicated relations between Türkiye and Germany, one of Israel’s largest arms suppliers, as Berlin continues to defend Israel’s actions, placing the atrocities against Palestine and Lebanon within a frame of „self-defence“.
Turkey excludes $2.5 bln Russian S-400 missiles from new air defense system project
(August 9, 2024)
In an earlier statement in 2020 to CNN Türk, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said, ‘Whether [the system] is used or not is a decision for the country that owns it. Turkey purchased the product they wanted from us. The owner of this system is Turkey. It is entirely dependent on what Turkey decides. Whether you go to the beach with it, carry potatoes or mount a machine gun on it for war, keeping it in the ‘garage’ is your right.”
Erdogan: Turkey to produce S-500s with Russia after S-400 deal
(May 19, 2019)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey and Russia would jointly produce S-500 defence systems after Ankara’s controversial purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Moscow.
Turkish president condemns Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, calls for global action
Erdogan criticized the international community for enabling Israel‘s actions, saying that as Tel Aviv continues to receive „weapons and ammunition support from its backers,“ it becomes „increasingly reckless, defying all humanity, humanitarian values, and international law.“
He stressed that Israel‘s „politics of madness,“ already seen in Gaza and Ramallah, must not be allowed to spread to Lebanon and other countries in the region.
„No person of conscience can accept, justify, or deem such a massacre legitimate,“ he said.
War on Gaza: Turkey backs South Africa ‚genocide‘ case against Israel at ICJ
(03.01.2024)
Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said in a statement that Ankara welcomes the South African case, which says Israel has violated its obligations under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
“Israel‘s murder of more than 22,000 Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom were women and children, in Gaza for nearly three months should not go unpunished in any way,“ Keceli said.
Read this Turkey, Jordan, and Qatar could invoke the Genocide Convention against Israel and its co-conspirators. But not one of these states has called out the genocide [by invoking the Convention].
Why?
„The accusations being made against Israel are absurd.“ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Israel is acting in accordance with international law in defending itself against Hamas.
Scholz was responding to a question about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s recent comments accusing Israel of „fascism.“ The two leaders are due to meet in Berlin on Friday.
Turkey recalls envoy to Israel, ‚writes off‘ Netanyahu
Palestinian ally Turkey had been mending torn relations with Israel until last month‘s start of the Israel-Hamas war.
But its tone hardened against both Israel and its Western supporters — particularly the United States — as the fighting escalated and the death toll among Palestinian civilians soared.
Visiting US senators: Hamas must be destroyed, war was opened to prevent Saudi peace
Delaware Democrat Chris Coons also said that the Abraham Accords and progress toward normalization were among Hamas’s reasons to attack now.
Graham added that 10 percent of the US Senate is currently in Israel “because we care… I come here because I love Israel. I do not hate Palestinians. I hate Hamas.”
Graham also had stark words of warning for Tehran: “We’re here today to tell Iran, we’re watching you. If this war grows, it’s coming to your backyard. There won’t be two fronts, there will be three.”
S-400 technology transfer to Turkey is purely commercial matter, Putin says
(3. April 2018)
Commenting on Russia’s decision to expedite S-400 deliveries to Turkey, the Russian leader stressed it had been done „at the request of our Turkish partners and friends.“
„Naturally, we discussed cooperation between Russian and Turkey in the military technical sphere, in particular, the implementation of the contract for supplies of S-400 Triumf missile systems to Turkey. We have decided to expedite deliveries if these highly efficient Russian-made defense systems,“ Putin said.
Drone attack on Syria military college kills at least 89 and wounds hundreds more
Five children and 31 women were among the dead, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Turkey Urges US End Working With Kurds Amid Airstrikes on Syria
Turkey called on the US to stop working with Kurdish YPG militants in Syria, vowing to maintain its cross-border offensives against America’s Kurdish allies in Syria after the US shot down a Turkish drone in the region.
US shoots down Turkish drone over Syria after attacks near Hasakah
Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul, said the UAV did not belong to the Turkish military, according to a statement.
“It is not only the Turkish military that conducts counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq and Syria,” she said.
She said that the Turkish intelligence and interior ministry’s gendarmerie also joined operations.
Turkey Launches Airstrikes on Kurdish Militant Targets in Iraq Following Explosion Near Parliament
This incident occurred on the day when the Turkish Parliament was set to reopen after a summer recess. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his address, labeled the attack as “the last stand of terrorism” and reiterated the government’s commitment to establishing a 30-kilometer safe zone along Turkey’s border with Syria to enhance border security.
Netanyahu meets Zelensky, Erdogan on sidelines of UNGA
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
On encountering the Israeli delegation, the Ukrainian leader made note of the „very big team“ receiving him, which included Israel‘s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan and Mossad chief David Barnea.
Insider: Treffen zwischen Erdogan und Putin nächste Woche
Das von der Türkei und den Vereinten Nationen vermittelte Abkommen zur Ausfuhr von Getreide aus der Ukraine über das Schwarze Meer wurde von Russland im Juli nicht mehr verlängert.
Erdogan says plans talks with Putin for extension of Black Sea grain deal
„The termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative will have a series of consequences, ranging from an increase in global food prices, famine in some regions, to potential new waves of migration,“ Erdogan told reporters on his flight back to Türkiye.
„I believe we will ensure the continuation of this humanitarian movement by discussing the issue in detail with Mr. Putin,“ he said.
Turkish, Ukrainian presidents discuss extension of Black Sea grain deal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the extension of the Black Sea grain deal over a phone call on Friday.
„The leaders discussed in detail the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement during the phone call held at the request of President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,“ the Turkish Communications Directorate said on Twitter.
Blockade: Kein NATO-Beitritt Schwedens auf Gipfel
Schweden kann seine Hoffnungen auf einen NATO-Beitritt auf dem Gipfel des Verteidigungsbündnisses Mitte Juli begraben.
Das ungarische Parlament habe die Ratifizierung des Beitrittsprotokolls nicht auf die Tagesordnung seiner letzten Sitzung vor der Sommerpause gesetzt, teilte die oppositionelle Abgeordnete Agnes Vadai heute nach einer Sitzung des parlamentarischen Hauptausschusses mit.