Hamas warns new protests will go further, surprise Israel
Defiant Hamas leaders warned Sunday that Palestinians would continue their protests along the Gaza fence, vowing to go beyond the barrier next time and promising fresh surprises for Israel.
Turkey
Erdogan: You are a terrorist, Netanyahu: You are a butcher
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu charged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday with slaughter in the northern Syrian city of Afrin, taking off his gloves and responding in kind to Erdogan’s sharp criticism of Israel’s reaction to Friday’s march in Gaza.
Turkey Calls Evangelism An Act of ‘Terrorism,’ Charges American Pastor
Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who’s been locked up in a Turkish jail for more than 500 days, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Syrian Christians Fear Persecution Under Turkish Rule
A city in Northern Syria, once a refuge for those fleeing the fighting all around them, is now the scene of suffering and death. Afrin is a Kurdish city, but it has welcomed Christian and Yazidi refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war and ISIS militants.
Syria war: Turkish-led forces oust Kurdish fighters from heart of Afrin
Turkish-backed forces have taken full control of the centre of the Syrian-Kurdish city of Afrin.
Iran says Damascus suburbs assault to continue as fighting rages
Iran said pro-Damascus forces would press ahead with attacks on an insurgent enclave near the Syrian capital, as ground fighting raged on there in defiance of a U.N. resolution demanding a 30-day truce across the country.
Tillerson meets Turkey’s Erdogan for ‘open’ talks after weeks of strain
Top U.S. diplomat Rex Tillerson and Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan had a ‘productive and open’ talk on Thursday about improving ties strained recently over their policies on Syria, in a meeting following weeks of escalating anti-American rhetoric from Ankara.
U.S. defense chief says talks with Turkey on Syria ‘open and honest’
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that the United States and Turkey, NATO allies, would press on with their collaboration over Syria despite their areas of difference.
Russia, Iran, Turkey foreign ministers to discuss Syria in Astana next month
The foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey plan to meet next month to discuss the situation in Syria, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said on Tuesday.
France: French, Turkish leaders discuss Syria ‘road map’
French officials say President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are talking about working on a ‘diplomatic road map’ for Syria in the ‘coming weeks.’
Kurds in Syria call on US support to rein in Turkish operations
Syria’s Kurdish militias have grown frustrated with the United States and its stance over the assault by Turkish forces in Afrin, on mainly-Kurdish areas of northwestern Syria near the Turkish border.
Turkey intensifies offensive against US-backed Kurds
Turkey has begun a major new offensive in northwestern Syria, in a bid to oust Kurdish militia from the area.
Iran calls for end to Turkish offensive in Syria
Iran on Sunday called for a quick end to a Turkish incursion into northern Syria’s Afrin province, saying it may help ‘terrorist’ groups, state news agency IRNA reported.
Turkish forces push into Syria, battle Kurdish militia
Turkey’s army and rebel allies battled US-backed Kurdish militia in Syria’s Afrin province on Sunday (Jan 21), stepping up a two-day-old campaign against YPG fighters that has opened a new front in Syria’s civil war.
Rift between U.S., Turkey widens as Ankara presses Syrian offensive
The U.S. and Turkey moved closer to an open rift Sunday, with the Trump administration expressing deep concern as Turkish ground forces crossed into northern Syria in a bid to rid the area of U.S.-backed Kurdish militias.
Turkey’s Erdogan vows to destroy U.S.-backed ‘terror army’ in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to destroy a 30,000-man border security force in Syria, trained and equipped by Washington, characterizing it as a ‘terror army’ designed to infringe on the country’s sovereignty in the region.
Turkey seeks to increase its influence in East Jerusalem
Since the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has become the leading voice of the Arab and Islamic opposition to the move. His country even hosted a special meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), during which he called Israel a “terror state” and threatened to cut its diplomatic ties with it.
Battle looms for rebel-held Syrian province after IS defeat
Syrian government forces and allied militiamen are advancing on the largest remaining rebel-held territory in the country’s north, forcing thousands of civilians to flee toward the border with Turkey in freezing winter temperatures.
Turkey hopes to open embassy in East Jerusalem, says Erdogan
Turkey intends to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognize it as the capital of a Palestinian state.
India, China and Russia Refrain From Recognizing East Jerusalem as Capital of Palestine in Joint Statement
Foreign ministers from India, Russia and China notably refrained from recognizing East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine at their annual meeting in New Delhi this week – seven days after the US recognized the holy city as the capital of Israel.