Rex Tillerson tried to reassure Ankara over US’s involvement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), much of which is comprised of Kurdish YPG, which is outlawed in Turkey as a terrorist organization. “We take it seriously when our NATO ally says it has security concerns,” Tillerson said at a joint news conference with his Turkish […]
Posts Tagged ‘manbij’
Tillerson in Ankara pledges limited weapon supplies to SDF, says Manbij ‘priority’ in Syria
US refuses to budge as Turkey extends military ops into US-occupied Manbij
After launching its Olive Branch operation in Syria’s Afrin, the Turkish authorities said that the operation was likely to expand towards the neighboring city of Manbij, where the US has some 2,000 of its military personnel deployed. Pulling US forces from Manbij is “not something we are looking into”, US Central Command chief General […]
US troops must leave Syria’s Manbij – Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Cavusoglu told reporters on Saturday that the US needs to immediately withdraw from the region near the city of Manbij, adding that Washington providing guns to the YPG must also stop. The foreign minister said Turkey wants to see proactive steps from the US, not simply promises. Turkish forces are conducting an offensive, codenamed ‘Olive […]
‘Small possibility’ that US & Ankara will come face-to-face in Manbij – Turkish deputy PM
Afrin knot: How the battle for a small Kurdish enclave could be the death knell for US-Turkey ties Turkey will also continue to use the airspace across Afrin region in northern Syria, where it recently launched Operation ‘Olive Branch’, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told Reuters in an interview. At the same time, he says, […]
Turkey will ‘thwart games’ along its borders, starting at Manbij in Syria – Erdogan
Turkish actions in Syria distract from efforts to defeat ISIS – US defense secretary Manbij, controlled by US-backed Kurdish militia, is located some 100km from Afrin, where Turkey’s general staff officially declared the start of ‘Operation Olive Branch’ on Saturday. The move follows Erdogan’s promise to “strangle” the new Border Security Force (BSF) in Syria. […]
Germany to support demining operations in Syria’s Manbij
nsnbc : Boris Ruge, Deputy Chief of Mission at the German Embassy to the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on German […]
Turkey may encounter economic war from the West following failed coup attempt
The failed coup attempt in Turkey might result in a prolonged economic crisis, an outflow of foreign investments and a setback in the country’s financial sector; however much of the above will depend on President Erdogan and Turkish authorities, who still have a chance of avoiding the worst, according to Russian and foreign financial […]
Israel detains four UK Muslims planning to visit Aqsa
Four British Muslims travelers recount their ordeals in Israel, which prevented them from visiting the al-Aqsa Mosque and forced them back home after keeping them in custody for days. The four, including an aid worker and a father along with his 10-year-old son, had planned to visit the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest […]
The motivation for Turkey’s rapprochement towards Israel and Russia? Realpolitik
This agreement is dictated on both sides by realpolitik, with Turkey’s need for energy and Israel needing an export route for its gas Turkey and Israel have agreed to bury their differences after a bitter dispute froze their relations for six years and have normal diplomatic relations, including ambassadors in each other’s capitals. Given […]
250 ISIS fighters reportedly killed in US-led coalition airstrikes on convoy near Fallujah (VIDEO)
US-led coalition aircraft hit about 40 vehicles in an Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) convoy south of Fallujah on Wednesday, according to reports. US military officials told Reuters that the convoy was largely destroyed and at least 250 militants were killed. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, however, and warned that the preliminary estimate […]
Persian treasures on display in Aquileia
(ANSA) – Rome, June 23 – Treasures from the ancient city of Persepolis are now on display at Aquileia’s archaeological museum, in a collaboration between Italy and Iran that aims to combine history with the fight against art trafficking and terrorism. The exhibition, “Lions and Bulls from Ancient Persia to Aquileia”, includes 25 objects spanning […]
Syrian Army Advances On Raqqa As US-Backed Forces Retreat
The Syrian Arab Army with the help of the Russian military is capturing ground as it moves eastwards to liberate the Daesh stronghold of Raqqa. While President Obama tries to find an integral role for the U.S. to play in liberating Raqqa, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are moving in the opposite direction toward the city of […]