Following the assassination of Hassan Nasrullah and 17 other senior Hezbollah leaders, Israel has launched a limited ground operation targeting the organization’s military infrastructure and leadership in Lebanon, which could significantly alter the geopolitical and security balance in the Middle East. As Iran’s most powerful proxy, Hezbollah plays a critical role in maintaining Tehran’s influence
The situation in Lebanon has taken a precarious turn, as highlighted by Israel’s recent attacks on Hezbollah. The country finds itself at risk of descending into a more complex and potentially bloodier conflict than it has seen before. This escalation is pushing Lebanon to its limits, with the potential for spillover effects reaching as far
When asked what would change for Türkiye if Donald Trump or Kamala Harris won the presidential elections in the US on November 5th, I can hear many of you saying “Nothing”. To understand, we need to look at which of today’s problems in Türkiye-US relations would be “normalized” – let’s not say solved – under
President Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech on August 24th at the Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris, vowing to further strengthen Turkey’s navy and army. The impressive TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s first amphibious assault ship, served as a backdrop. Anadolu had just returned to Aksaz after participating in a joint military exercise with the United States in
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on August 12 and, summarizing from the American State Department’s statement, asked Türkiye to use its influence to get Hamas to return to the negotiation table with Israel on August 15. Fidan, as I summarize from Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli’s statement, told him
Last week there were news reports about a possible meeting between President Tayyip Erdoğan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, where Erdoğan was present as a dialogue partner. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was of particular importance but Erdoğan met with leaders of a number of
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hinted at a significant diplomatic shift by suggesting a potential invitation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This invitation, Erdoğan indicated, could coincide with a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Türkiye, marking a new phase in regional diplomacy. “We might have an invitation for Bashar al-Assad along with President
It’s high time to say that the time has come and gone for opening a new chapter in Syria. Türkiye’s policy towards Syria since the outbreak of civil war in 2011 is no longer sustainable; all signs have appeared. Otherwise, it’s unlikely that a sexual harassment incident in Kayseri would quickly turn into anti-Türkiye demonstrations
Top-level Turkish security delegation’s visit to Baghdad on March 14 should be considered as a significant step towards a comprehensive Türkiye Iraq agreement ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s expected visit to Iraq in April after 12 years. The rapprochement and establishment of strategic political and economic relations between Türkiye and Iraq appear to