Politics
US-backed terrorists in Syria lose control of oil, gas, dam
The Syrian army on Sunday continued dashing the dreams of so-called autonomy of the U.S.-backed YPG, the Syrian wing of the terrorist group PKK. In the second major push in two weeks against the group, the army seized swathes of the country’s north, including al-Omar and Tanak oil fields, as well as the Euphrates Dam.
Military operations appear to be limiting the YPG’s movement in post-Assad Syria, where the group aspired to retain its “autonomy” in the northeast that lingered for more than a decade. Damascus hoped that the YPG would implement a March 2025 deal signed between its leader Ferhat Abdi Şahin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa by the end of 2025. However, the YPG dragged its feet in its integration with the Syrian army under the deal and persisted in “decentralization.”
Government troops drove the YPG from two Aleppo neighborhoods last week and on Saturday took control of an area east of the city. On Sunday, the government announced the capture of Tabqa, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Raqqa.
“The Syrian army controls the strategic city of Tabqa in the Raqqa countryside, including the Euphrates Dam, which is the largest dam in Syria,” said Information Minister Hamza Almustafa, according to the official SANA news agency. By Sunday evening, local media outlets reported that most of Raqqa was captured from the YPG thanks to a popular uprising against the terrorists and an offensive by tribal forces.
Noureddin al-Baba, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, told al-Ikhbariyyah TV station that they had “good news” for the people of Raqqa and thanked the people for cooperating with the government forces. He stated that his ministry’s forces were now stationed across Raqqa and reinforcements were dispatched to the province. He said new police outposts and security posts would be established across Raqqa within a few hours, to cement the central administration’s full control of Raqqa.
Anadolu Agency (AA), meanwhile, reported that Deir el-Zour province, occupied by YPG terrorists, has been largely liberated by tribal forces east of the Euphrates River. “The YPG withdrew at dawn on Sunday from all areas under its control in the eastern Deir el-Zour countryside, including the al-Omar and Tanak oil fields,” the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
AA said that tribal groups operating east of the Euphrates, supported by reinforcements arriving from west of the river, took control of the al-Omar oil field and the Conoco natural gas field on Sunday. A security vacuum emerged in the region following the withdrawal of U.S. forces, which had previously used the fields as military bases.
Armed operations launched against the YPG by tribes coming from the western bank of the river that divides the province into two, together with tribes on the eastern side, have been ongoing since Saturday night.
After liberating the southern and central parts of the province, tribal forces expanded their areas of control northward toward Raqqa and Hasakah, largely securing control over the provincial borders. The settlements of Mheimide, Suwaidan Jazira, Murad, Giranic, Tayyane, al-Jarzi, al-Husseiniyah, Halabiye, al-Baghour, al-Boubadran, al-Bahrah, Susah, Abu Hardub, al-Shenan, Darnaj, Diban, al-Hawayij, al-Busayrah, Subha, Dehla, Jadid Baggara, Khasham, Mazlum, al-Hisan, Jafra Field, Huwayij Bumasah and Sawa in Deir el-Zour are now under the control of the tribal forces.
Syria’s army said four soldiers had been killed, while the YPG reported several members dead.
The YPG ordered a curfew in the Raqqa region after the army designated a swathe of territory southwest of the Euphrates River a “closed military zone,” warning it would target what it said were several military sites.
The SANA news agency reported Sunday that the YPG destroyed two bridges over the Euphrates in Raqqa city, which lies on the eastern bank of the river.
Raqqa’s media directorate separately accused the YPG of cutting off Raqa city’s water supply by blowing up the main water pipes.
Deir ez-Zour governor Ghassan Alsayed Ahmed said on social media that the YPG fired “rocket projectiles” at neighborhoods in government-controlled territories in the city center, Al-Mayadin and other areas.
On Friday, Şahin had committed to redeploying his forces from outside Aleppo to east of the Euphrates.
The army urged the YPG to “immediately fulfil its announced commitments and fully withdraw” east of the river.
The YPG controls swathes of Syria’s oil-rich north and northeast, areas captured during the civil war.
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack met Şahin in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), on Saturday.
While Washington has long supported the YPG under the pretext of a joint fight against Daesh, it has also backed Syria’s new authorities.
U.S. Central Command on Saturday urged Syrian government forces “to cease any offensive actions in the areas between Aleppo and Tabqa.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and KRG President Nechirvan Barzani also called for de-escalation and a cease-fire.
Since leading a revolution to oust the oppressive Ba’athist regime in December 2024, al-Sharaa has struggled to assert full control across the war-torn country and to appeal to minorities skeptical of his rule. The YPG has been warm to the idea of integration with the new Syrian army, but Türkiye, which suffered from YPG attacks in the past, has pointed out that they were buying time to implement the deal, apparently encouraged by Israel.
Tabqa is the latest of the mostly Arab majority areas that government forces have captured in Raqqa province. It remains unclear how deep into YPG-controlled areas the Syrian military will go.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government, in a statement, accused YPG forces of executing prisoners in Tabqa before withdrawing from the area. Amid lawlessness due to civil war, the YPG took Tabqa from Daesh back in 2017.
The YPG has attempted to portray tensions in and around Aleppo as ethnic attacks against Kurds it claims to represent. To counter the allegations, Syria on Friday unveiled its first formal recognition of Kurdish rights in the country since Syria’s independence in 1946. A presidential decree said that Kurds are “an essential and integral part” of Syria. It made Kurdish a “national language” and granted nationality to all Kurds, around 20% of whom were stripped of it under a controversial 1962 census.
Türkiye’s guidance
Türkiye has offered Syria any assistance it may need in defusing tensions with the YPG. Türkiye and Damascus are determined to push for the integration of the YPG into the Syrian army, but are also planning next steps in case of resistance. The Sabah newspaper reported on Saturday that more operations may be in store against the YPG.
The Sabah report says Türkiye would offer aerial and intelligence support to operations and shared its experience in the fight against the PKK with Syria. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told al-Sharaa to exert caution in operations to not harm civilians during operations, the newspaper said, adding that Türkiye’s recommendations helped minimize harm to civilians.
If the YPG continues to resist integration into the Syrian army, operations east and west of the Euphrates River will continue, the Sabah report says.
During this process, an effective public diplomacy campaign will be conducted to prevent discomfort among the international community and Kurdish citizens in Türkiye and to avoid the spread of misinformation. In Türkiye’s previous operations against the PKK and the YPG, propaganda claiming that “civilians are being killed” and that “Kurds are being targeted for elimination” was widely circulated. Those claims, though false, gained some traction among Kurdish citizens and international public opinion. Officials say the upcoming effort will prevent such disinformation from taking hold.
If the YPG maintains its current stance, Türkiye and the Syrian government are said to be determined to advance as far as Qamishli. However, security sources believe the group will return to negotiations and be forced into integration before operations reach Qamishli.
During the Aleppo phase, the YPG failed to receive the support it had expected from the U.S. and Israel did not fulfill any of its commitments to the YPG, according to officials. This became evident during operations in evacuated neighborhoods, a development described as significant and likely to influence the YPG’s decision to return to the negotiating table.
Turkish ministers traveling to Syria have repeatedly stressed to the Damascus administration that civilians must not be harmed under any circumstances. Officials say the care shown toward civilians during the Aleppo operation reflected Türkiye’s guidance.
After the collapse of Türkiye’s reconciliation process in the 2010s to disarm the PKK, the country carried out operations against the group, which it says had used civilians as human shields in several cities. Following monthslong operations, the group was removed from urban areas. Türkiye has shared its experience from those operations with the Syrian government, and that experience was applied during the Aleppo operation.
Türkiye says it sees no alternative to the situation other than the YPG laying down its arms and integrating into Syria. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is described as resolute on this issue. His recent remarks that the situation in Aleppo represents “an opportunity” are therefore being interpreted as a final chance extended to the group.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls Tuesday with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, diplomatic sources said.
Fidan and his Qatari counterpart discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the sources.
In a separate call with al-Shaibani, Fidan discussed the latest developments in the region.
The calls came amid heightened attention on regional developments and the situation surrounding the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Fidan met with his Qatari counterpart, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on July 19, a few days after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the country to extend condolences for the late emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Türkiye and Qatar have steadily deepened their strategic partnership since establishing it in 2014 through high-level exchanges and bilateral agreements spanning a wide range of fields.
On the other hand, Fidan hosted his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, in Ankara on July 6 as the two neighboring countries continue to deepen relations following the collapse of the Baathist regime in 2024.
Regarding the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, Syria’s top diplomat stressed that the fighting in the region should come to an end as soon as possible. He noted that the regional tensions were also affecting Syria and said Damascus condemned Iran’s attacks against the Gulf countries.
Civil society groups supporting Palestinians will hold simultaneous events in more than 17 countries on Wednesday to call for greater humanitarian access to Gaza as the world marks World Humanitarian Day.
The global initiative, called the “Voice of Humanity,” will take place across five continents on Aug. 19, according to Osman Nuri Kabaktepe, head of the Palestine Support Platform, one of the organizations participating in the campaign.
Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul, Kabaktepe called on the public to support the initiative, saying access to food, medicine, shelter and healthcare should be regarded as a fundamental right rather than a concession.
“We are talking about a right, not a favor,” Kabaktepe noted, arguing that restrictions on humanitarian assistance have left civilians in Gaza struggling to obtain essential supplies.
Kabaktepe said tens of thousands of civilians have been killed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and that children, women, patients and other vulnerable people continue to face difficulties accessing food and medical supplies.
He also accused Israel of failing to comply with provisions on humanitarian assistance under a cease-fire agreement, saying the arrangement envisaged the entry of at least 600 aid trucks into Gaza each day.
Kabaktepe called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor and urged international organizations and institutions to work to ensure the delivery of aid into the Palestinian enclave.
As part of Wednesday’s campaign, supporters in Istanbul are expected to gather at Üsküdar Square at 6:30 p.m. local time.
Organizers will call for humanitarian assistance to be kept separate from political negotiations and for restrictions on aid deliveries to Gaza to be lifted.
“Humanitarian aid cannot be a matter of negotiation,” Kabaktepe underlined.
He urged international organizations and governments to increase efforts to secure humanitarian access to Gaza.
World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on Aug. 19 to recognize humanitarian workers and people affected by crises around the world.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and preserve the cease-fire in a phone call Monday, Turkish diplomatic sources said.
The two ministers reviewed the latest developments in ongoing negotiations concerning the reopening of the strategic waterway and the continuation of the cease-fire, according to the sources.
The two top diplomats spoke amid ongoing tensions in the region, with suspected Iranian drones targeting Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s office in Irbil on Monday.
Meanwhile, Fidan also held separate phone calls with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Nechirvan Barzani and KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday, Foreign Ministry sources said. The talks focused on the latest developments in the region, the sources added.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated newly appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a phone call Monday, as the two leaders pledged to deepen the strategic partnership between Türkiye and the United Kingdom, particularly in defense, security, trade and investment.
Erdoğan and Burnham discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments, according to a statement on the call.
Erdoğan congratulated Burnham on assuming his new post and expressed confidence that relations between Ankara and London would reach new heights in the coming period.
The president highlighted the significant progress Türkiye and the U.K. have made in cooperation across a broad range of areas, particularly in the defense industry.
He also underscored the importance of the Strategic Partnership Framework Document and the Security and Defense Partnership Document signed by the two countries, describing them as key instruments for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Erdoğan said Ankara and London would continue working together to increase bilateral trade volume and achieve their shared objectives in investment, while building on the growing strategic partnership between the two NATO allies.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed Türkiye-U.S. ties and pressing regional and global developments in a phone call, with the Turkish leader stressing the need to maximize diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Erdoğan told Trump that Türkiye hoped negotiations between Iran and the United States would continue, emphasizing that Ankara would maintain its support for efforts aimed at securing peace, according to a statement from the Presidential Communications Directorate.
The president also highlighted the joint defense agreement signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, saying the pact demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring regional stability and security.
Turning to Gaza, Erdoğan warned that Israeli actions targeting Palestinians had intensified at a time when efforts were focused on advancing to the second phase of the Gaza peace process.
He reiterated that Türkiye would continue supporting steps toward lasting peace in the region as well as efforts to rebuild the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
Since the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, constitutional design has served as the backbone of the country’s legal system. The current Constitution, adopted in 1982, has been repeatedly amended over the decades – most notably in 2017, when a national referendum paved the way for the country’s transition from a parliamentary model to an executive presidential system.
Navigating the 175-article charter can be complex for international observers. Here is a clear guide to the foundational provisions, historical turning points and ongoing reform efforts shaping Türkiye’s legal framework today.
The Irrevocable Principles (Articles 1–4)
The opening section of the Constitution defines the permanent identity of the state. Under Article 4, the first three articles cannot be amended, nor can an amendment to them be proposed.
Article 1: Defines Türkiye as a republic.
Article 2: Establishes the country as a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law, respecting human rights and loyal to Atatürk nationalism.
Article 3: Affirms the indivisible integrity of the state with its territory and nation. It designates Turkish as the official language, Ankara as the capital, and establishes the national flag and anthem.
Article 4: Protects the provisions of Articles 1, 2 and 3 from amendment and prohibits proposals to amend them.
State Sovereignty and Separation of Powers (Articles 6–9)
The Constitution establishes how state authority is exercised and divided among the branches of government.
Article 6: Declares that sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation and may be exercised only through the authorized organs established by the Constitution.
Article 7: Vests legislative power in the Turkish Parliament (TBMM), which exercises this authority on behalf of the nation.
Article 8: Assigns executive power and responsibility to the president, who exercises it in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
Article 9: States that judicial power is exercised by independent and impartial courts on behalf of the Turkish nation.
Supremacy of the Constitution (Article 11)
Article 11 establishes the Constitution as the highest binding legal authority in Türkiye.
Article 11: States that the provisions of the Constitution are fundamental legal rules binding upon the legislative, executive and judicial organs, administrative authorities, and other institutions and individuals. Laws cannot be contrary to the Constitution.
Fundamental Rights and Protections (Articles 10, 12 & 13)
The Constitution establishes the principle of equality before the law and defines both the nature of fundamental rights and the conditions under which they may be restricted.
Article 10: Guarantees equality before the law without discrimination, including on grounds of language, race, color, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion or sect. It also requires the state to ensure that equality between men and women exists in practice.
Articles 12 & 13: Establish that everyone possesses inherent, inviolable and inalienable fundamental rights and freedoms, while recognizing that these rights also carry duties and responsibilities toward society, family and others. Article 13 provides that fundamental rights and freedoms may be restricted only by law, without infringing upon their essence and only on grounds specified in the relevant constitutional provisions. Any restriction must comply with the Constitution, the requirements of a democratic society and the secular republic, as well as the principle of proportionality.
Citizenship and International Law (Articles 66 & 90)
Two provisions frequently cited in legal and political debates concern citizenship and Türkiye’s international obligations.
Article 66: Defines Turkish citizenship, stating that everyone bound to the Turkish state through the bond of citizenship is a Turk.
Article 90: Provides that international agreements duly put into effect have the force of law. In cases of conflict between domestic legislation and international agreements concerning fundamental rights and freedoms, the provisions of the international agreement prevail.
The Executive Branch (Articles 101, 104 & 116)
Following the 2017 constitutional amendments, executive authority was vested in the presidency and the office of prime minister was abolished.
Article 101: Specifies that the president is directly elected for a five-year term and may serve a maximum of two terms. Presidential candidates may be nominated by political party groups, political parties that individually or jointly received at least 5% of valid votes in the previous parliamentary election, or at least 100,000 eligible voters.
Article 104: Outlines presidential duties and powers. As head of state, the president exercises executive authority, appoints vice presidents and ministers, may issue presidential decrees within constitutional limits, ratifies and promulgates international treaties, determines national security policies and takes necessary measures to safeguard national security. The president also ensures the implementation of the Constitution and the regular and harmonious functioning of state organs.
Article 116: Addresses the renewal of presidential and parliamentary elections. Parliament may decide to renew elections with a three-fifths majority of its total membership, while the president may also decide to renew elections. In either case, presidential and parliamentary elections are held together. If Parliament decides to renew elections during a president’s second term, the incumbent may run for president once more.
Parliament and Legislation (Articles 75, 77, 87 & 98)
Legislative authority rests with the unicameral Turkish Parliament.
Article 75: Sets parliamentary composition at 600 members.
Article 77: Provides that parliamentary and presidential elections are held every five years on the same day.
Article 87: Entrusts Parliament with enacting, amending and repealing laws, debating and adopting budget and final account bills, approving the ratification of international treaties, and deciding on declarations of war in cases permitted under international law, among other constitutional powers.
Article 98: Details parliamentary oversight mechanisms, including parliamentary inquiries, general debates, parliamentary investigations and written questions. Written questions may be submitted by lawmakers to vice presidents and ministers.
The Judiciary (Articles 138, 146 & 148)
Judicial authority is exercised by independent and impartial courts on behalf of the Turkish nation.
Article 138: Establishes judicial independence. Judges rule according to the Constitution, laws and their conscientious convictions, and no state organ, authority or individual may issue orders, instructions, recommendations or suggestions to courts or judges concerning the exercise of judicial power.
Articles 146 & 148: Govern the Constitutional Court. The court consists of 15 members, with three elected by Parliament and 12 selected by the president through procedures established by the Constitution. The court reviews the constitutionality of laws and presidential decrees and performs other duties assigned by the Constitution. Individuals may also apply directly to the court over alleged violations by public authorities of fundamental rights and freedoms protected by the Constitution and falling within the scope of the European Convention on Human Rights after ordinary legal remedies have been exhausted.
Military interventions and constitutional interruptions
Türkiye’s constitutional history has been directly altered by political crises and military interventions, resulting in new charters or significant changes to the country’s constitutional order.
The 1960 Coup and the 1961 Charter
On May 27, 1960, the military overthrew the elected Democrat Party government led by Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, suspended the 1924 Constitution and dissolved Parliament. A military administration ruled until a Constituent Assembly drafted the 1961 Constitution. Approved by referendum, the new charter introduced a bicameral Parliament and established the Constitutional Court. Menderes, who served as prime minister from 1950 until the coup, was executed in September 1961 following a trial by a military-appointed court.
The 1971 Memorandum
On March 12, 1971, military commanders issued a memorandum that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel. While the 1961 Constitution remained in force, subsequent constitutional amendments curtailed some civil liberties and strengthened state authority during a period marked by political violence and martial law.
The 1980 Coup and the 1982 Charter
The most extensive constitutional disruption occurred on Sept. 12, 1980, when the military seized power, dissolved Parliament and suspended the existing constitutional order. Political parties were subsequently banned, and an appointed Consultative Assembly took part in drafting a new constitution.
The 1982 Constitution was approved in a national referendum and remains Türkiye’s current charter, although it has undergone numerous amendments under civilian governments over the following decades.
2017 Constitutional Reform
A major overhaul of Türkiye’s system of government came with the 2017 constitutional referendum, which approved the transition from the parliamentary system to the presidential system.
The amendments abolished the office of prime minister, vested executive authority in the president, revised parliamentary oversight mechanisms and reshaped the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. The new system took full effect following the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2018.
Central and Local Administration (Article 127)
Türkiye’s administrative system distinguishes between the central government’s provincial organization and elected local administrations.
Governors (vali) at the provincial level and district governors (kaymakam) represent the central administration in the provinces and districts, respectively.
Article 127, meanwhile, governs local administrations, defining them as public entities established to meet the common local needs of residents in provinces, municipalities and villages, with decision-making bodies elected by voters.
Mayors and municipal councils are elected by voters, while Türkiye’s metropolitan municipality system divides certain responsibilities between metropolitan municipalities and district municipalities.
Article 127 also grants the central administration powers of administrative tutelage (idari vesayet) over local governments within the principles and procedures prescribed by law. This oversight is intended to ensure that local services are carried out in accordance with the principle of administrative integrity, secure uniform public service, safeguard the public interest and meet local needs appropriately.
Push for New Civilian Constitution
Despite numerous amendments over the decades, replacing the 1982 Constitution with a new civilian-drafted charter remains a prominent issue in Türkiye’s political debate.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş have repeatedly advocated for a new civilian constitution, arguing that the existing charter retains the legacy of the military rule under which it was drafted despite extensive subsequent amendments.
Kurtulmuş said in August 2026 that Türkiye’s political climate and level of dialogue had matured sufficiently for work toward a new civilian constitution, describing such a charter as a longstanding objective.
Any constitutional amendment must follow the procedure established by Article 175. A proposal must first be submitted in writing by at least one-third of Parliament’s total membership, or 200 lawmakers, and must be debated twice in the General Assembly.
Approval requires at least a three-fifths majority, or 360 of Parliament’s 600 members, in a secret ballot.
A constitutional amendment adopted with between 360 and 399 votes must be submitted to a referendum if the president does not return it to Parliament for reconsideration.
An amendment receiving at least a two-thirds majority, or 400 votes, may take effect without a referendum after the constitutional process is completed, although the president retains the authority to submit such an amendment to a referendum.
With constitutional change requiring broad parliamentary support, efforts to draft an entirely new charter depend heavily on negotiations and political consensus across party lines.
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