Politics
Erdoğan warns of ‘critical days,’ vows region free of YPG terror
Commenting on a new deal between the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG and Damascus, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the group cannot sustain its existence in the Syrian territories it occupies.
The YPG was given a four-day deadline by Damascus on Tuesday to hand over the full control of the key bastion Hassakeh and for integration of the group into the Syrian army. The deadline is apparently an ultimatum for the YPG to adhere to a recent deal for integration and a cease-fire, and to force it to abandon its ambition for self-styled autonomy. Türkiye was one of the backers of the deal due to the YPG’s ties to the PKK terrorist group. Ankara hopes it will complement its own terror-free Türkiye initiative for disarming the PKK.
Erdoğan was speaking at a parliamentary group meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Wednesday, where he highlighted that the world and the region were going through “critical days.”
“We are almost on the Bridge of Sirat, where the smallest mistake may lead to major consequences,” he said, borrowing an Islamic term about a bridge over hell.
“I invite everyone, from politicians to media, to act responsibly, be wary of the climate of hatred on social media,” he said.
The provocation he was speaking of came in the form of a group of YPG supporters in Türkiye who attempted to force their way into Syria from the Turkish-Syrian border and took down a Turkish flag on the border, prompting nationwide anger.
“A terrorist group cannot achieve anything by attacking our flag. We will punish traitors who attacked our flag, and any negligence (to stop an attack on the flag) will also be punished,” Erdoğan said.
“I congratulate Syria for its successful operations and extend my condolences to the martyrs who died (fighting YPG terrorists). We are pleased with the Syria cease-fire; we hope (the YPG) will be dissolved and the bloodshed will end. The YPG cannot sustain existence in the Syrian territories it occupies,” he also said.
The president called Turks, Kurds and Arabs in the region to resolve problems plaguing the region, “instead of attempting to establish statelets,” he said, referring to YPG’s autonomy ambition.
He said if the YPG complied with the March 2025 agreement it signed with Damascus, it would ensure Syria’s territorial integrity, but the group “did not take any positive steps within the timetable of the agreement,” he lamented.
“Instead, they exerted pressure on civilians in territories they occupied, attacked civilians and soldiers elsewhere. Another deal in December also failed. To be frank, this was due to the YPG’s uncompromising stance and attempts to buy more time. We advised all sides through the timetable for resolution, but the YPG did not change its maximalist approach,” he said.
The president underlined that Türkiye always advocated for territorial integrity and political unity of Syria, and they would “not allow a separatist structure posing a threat to our national security on our southern borders.”
Support for Kurds
The YPG portrays clashes with the Syrian army as an attack on Syrian Kurds. Türkiye rejects the portrayal and says it is not hostile to Kurds in the region. Erdoğan’s speech on Wednesday concentrated on this outreach to Kurds as he dismissed the notion that the YPG represented Syria’s Kurds.
“Kurds in Syria are our brothers. We know very well what they suffered in the hands of the previous regime in Syria. Syria in the past did not recognize them. They were not even citizens. I always voiced this issue and called on the Syrian regime to fix this problem in my talks as prime minister in the past, when our relations with Syria (under the Assad regime) existed. The rights of Syrian Kurds still top our agenda. Kurds faced pressure from the terrorist group after the civil war began there. Kurdish children were forced into conflict because of the ambitions of the terrorist group. They were sent to their deaths,” Erdoğan said.
“Kurdish people were forced into a lifestyle contradicting their faith and traditions. They were also targeted by Daesh murderers. The new Syrian government embraced Syrian Kurds and adopted a constructive role for their integration,” he said, referring to a recent presidential decree by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to reinstate Kurdish rights.
“Throughout the Halabja massacre (in Iraq) and the attacks in Ayn al-Arab, we consistently offered support to our Kurdish brethren during their most challenging periods. Should circumstances of this nature recur, we would, without reservation, reiterate our support and offer assistance to our brothers with unwavering determination. It is imperative that everyone now recognizes, comprehends and acknowledges the following: What truly matters is not division, but unity, what truly matters is not division, but fostering mutual affection and unity, what truly matters is not fragmenting into minor statelets but rather uniting efforts and fostering collective strength,” he said.
“Turks, Kurds and Arabs, mirroring historical precedent, will unite, act in solidarity, share a common vision and collaboratively address the challenges facing our region,” he stated.
Malaysia’s ambassador to Ankara, Sazali Bin Mustafa Kemal, said relations between Malaysia and Türkiye are at their highest point in history, highlighting deepened strategic cooperation and the two countries’ joint role in advancing regional stability and global peace.
As his term in Türkiye came to an end, Sazali visited the streets around Ankara Castle with his wife and spoke to Anadolu Agency (AA) about bilateral relations and his experiences in the country.
Having served in the Turkish capital for about five and a half years, Sazali said he felt at home in the city from the very beginning and described it as a place rich in history.
Recalling the moment he presented his letter of credence to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Sazali said the president first mentioned his name and asked whether he had any connection with Türkiye due to sharing the name Mustafa Kemal.
He said this was very meaningful for him and felt like an advantage to carry the same name as such a distinguished historical figure, noting that it is a common name in Malaysia.
He also said Ankara holds a special place in his life because he arrived in Türkiye single and later got married in the country, which made his time there unforgettable.
The official praised Türkiye’s deep historical heritage and highlighted Turkish cuisine as one of the country’s most valuable cultural elements, noting that it brings together flavors from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
He said Iskender is his favorite dish and that, despite health limitations, he always tries to eat Iskender in Bursa.
He said he visited many parts of Türkiye, naming Istanbul as his favorite city due to the Bosporus and the sea.
He added that he frequently visited Cappadocia and enjoyed its landscape, and that visiting Mount Nemrut made him feel as if he were traveling through history.
Sazali said he tried to learn Turkish but found that the language requires significant concentration.
He added that his favorite Turkish word is “arkadaşlar” (“friends”), because whenever he remembers the word, he thinks of the Turkish people and their warmth.
He also spoke about “Visit Malaysia 2026,” inviting Turkish families to explore the country and noting that Malaysia offers a wide range of attractions.
Referring to martial arts, he said he holds a black belt in taekwondo and highlighted Malaysia’s traditional martial art Silat, expressing confidence that Turkish people would appreciate it.
Bilateral relations
On bilateral ties, Sazali emphasized that relations between Malaysia and Türkiye have always been long-standing and diplomatic, with people-to-people ties predating the official establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964.
He said the relationship has seen tremendous development and that at present ties are at an excellent level.
He noted that relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 and that high-level visits between the two countries have strengthened cooperation in regional and global matters.
Referring to the Palestinian issue, Sazali said Malaysia and Türkiye consult each other regularly and move in coordination.
He added that by acting together, the two countries play a significant role in promoting regional stability, world security and international peace.
He underlined the importance of people-to-people contacts, noting that around 100,000 Malaysians visited Türkiye in 2025, while about 31,000 Turkish citizens visit Malaysia annually.
The diplomat also pointed out that Malaysia can learn from Türkiye in areas such as defense, development and engineering, while Türkiye can benefit from Malaysia’s experience in the semiconductor industry.
He added that Malaysia supports Türkiye’s efforts to become a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highlighted Türkiye’s experience in diplomacy, defense, international relations and security, saying that Ankara has often been at the forefront in encouraging mediation and negotiation in resolving international conflicts and crises.
Turkish authorities detained 93 tax inspectors in raids across 11 provinces as part of an investigation into the Gülenist Terrorist Group (FETÖ), prosecutors said Friday.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the operation was carried out under the direction of its Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, with police counterterrorism units conducting coordinated raids targeting suspects accused of involvement in the group’s activities.
According to a statement from prosecutors, investigators determined that the suspects used pay phones and a prepaid card-based communication system allegedly employed by the organization as a covert method of communication.
Authorities said statements from informants indicated that the suspects had taken part in the group’s activities. The investigation targeted 94 tax inspectors, including both active personnel within the Treasury and Finance Ministry and others previously dismissed from public service.
Police detained 93 suspects during the operation, while one individual was found to be abroad, the statement said.
The terrorist group orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 were wounded. Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
Türkiye has targeted its active members and sleeper cells nonstop, and its influence has been much reduced since 2016. However, the group maintains a vast network, including infiltrators suspected to be still operating within Turkish institutions.
FETÖ backers in army ranks and civil institutions have disguised their loyalty, as operations and investigations have indicated since the 2016 coup attempt. FETÖ is also implicated in a string of cases related to its alleged plots to imprison its critics, money laundering, fraud and forgery.
The terrorist group faces operations almost daily as investigators still try to unravel their massive network of infiltrators everywhere. In 2024 alone, police apprehended hundreds of FETÖ suspects across the country, including fugitives on western borders trying to flee to Europe.
Those apprehended were mostly low-ranking members of the group, as high-ranking members managed to flee the country before and immediately after the coup attempt.
Still, security forces occasionally capture key figures of the group who managed to remain in hiding, such as Cihat Yıldız. Yıldız, accused of helping the escape of Adil Öksüz, the civilian mastermind of the 2016 coup attempt, was captured during a police check in August in Istanbul.
Turkish security sources also say the group is in turmoil after the death of its leader, Fetullah Gülen, in October 2024.
Parliament has approved a comprehensive amendment to the Highway Traffic Law, significantly increasing penalties for dangerous driving, in a move officials say is aimed at cutting road deaths by half.
The legislation, which enters into force upon publication in the Official Gazette, introduces tougher fines, longer license suspensions and, in some cases, prison sentences for serious violations.
Former Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who oversaw the preparation of the draft, said the goal is to reduce the annual number of traffic fatalities, currently around 6,000, to below 3,000. He noted that despite a sharp rise in inspections last year, authorities were only able to prevent 197 deaths.
In 2024, Türkiye recorded 385,000 injury-related traffic accidents, and inspections in residential areas will be further increased, Yerlikaya said.
Penalties for speeding, red lights
Under the new rules, drivers exceeding urban speed limits face immediate license suspensions of at least one month. In residential zones, those driving 46-55 kph (29-34 mph) over the limit will lose their licenses for 30 days, 56-65 kph over for 60 days, and 66 kph or more over for 90 days.
In school and hospital zones, where the speed limit is 30 kph, drivers clocked at 76 kph will face a 30-day suspension; at 86 kph, 60 days; and at 96 kph or more, 90 days.
Running a red light six times in one year will result in permanent revocation of a driver’s license. Drivers who cause accidents by running red lights will face a 60-day suspension and must undergo a psychotechnical evaluation before regaining their licenses.
Leaving the scene of a traffic accident involving injury or death without police permission will carry a prison sentence of one to three years.
Heavy fines, vehicle impoundments
The law imposes a TL 140,000 (approximately $4,375) fine on drivers who alter license plates to make them unreadable, along with a 30-day vehicle impoundment. Failing to yield to vehicles with the right of way carries a TL 15,000 fine.
Drivers who do not give way to ambulances, fire trucks or rescue vehicles face a TL 46,000 fine and a 30-day license suspension. Using a mobile phone while driving carries a TL 5,000 fine, rising to TL 10,000 for repeat offenses; a third violation will result in a one-month suspension.
Manufacturing, importing or possessing devices that detect speed enforcement systems is also banned. Producers face fines of TL 370,000, while vehicle owners found with such devices face TL 185,000 penalties.
Aggressive driving, including persistently tailgating or exiting a vehicle to confront another driver, will be punished with fines of up to TL 180,000, a 60-day license revocation and possible vehicle impoundment. In certain cases, reinstatement will require a psychotechnical report.
Drivers who organize races face a TL 46,000 fine and a two-year license revocation.
Focus on motorcycles
The legislation also addresses risks posed by motorcycles, which authorities say are involved in two out of every three at-fault accidents. Türkiye’s motorcycle fleet is expected to exceed 7 million this year, accounting for one in five vehicles on the road.
Officials said the sweeping reforms reflect a determination to protect public safety and strengthen enforcement against behavior that endangers lives on the country’s roads.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday criticized the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), whose lawmakers tried to derail the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed justice minister on Wednesday.
He said the CHP continues to cling to its past fascism and resort to banditry, referring to lawmakers engaging in fisticuffs.
Akın Gürlek, who succeeded Yılmaz Tunç as justice minister, arrived at Parliament on Wednesday to be formally sworn in, but CHP lawmakers suddenly leapt to the pulpit where he would recite the oath, effectively stopping him. Lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) rushed to Gürlek’s side, and a brawl erupted between Mahmut Tanal of the CHP and Osman Gökçek of the AK Party. Other lawmakers traded blows, too, while AK Party deputies surrounded Gürlek, shielding him from CHP members hurling objects at him.
Gökçek later told reporters that Tanal had approached to assault Gürlek, and he intervened to stop him. The CHP earlier claimed that they were simply opposed to Gürlek being sworn in as justice minister from his previous post as chief prosecutor of Istanbul. The party also admitted that their opposition had more to do with the assignment of Gürlek, who was behind several corruption investigations against CHP-run municipalities.
Addressing a meeting of provincial chairs of his AK Party in Ankara, Erdoğan said they witnessed “the fascist, arrogant politics of the CHP once again” on Wednesday. “They demonstrated all kinds of banditry to stop our ministers from taking the oaths,” he said, referring to Gürlek as well as newly appointed Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi. “They occupied the pulpit of the nation.”
“But you cannot stop what will happen, Mr. Özgür,” Erdoğan said in reference to CHP Chair Özgür Özel, to the applause of AK Party members. “You cannot stop us. The ministers exercised their constitutional right and took oaths. What’s done is done. Why were you so disturbed?” Erdoğan said.
“But it is difficult for them to give up their fascist mindset. Parliament is not a place where you can start fights whenever convenient. I wonder whether they are at Parliament to defend the rights of people or terrorize people,” he said.
Erdoğan said the CHP’s politics were “ugly” as evidenced by the latest incident. “You should not humiliate yourself more. I condemn this attack that undermines people’s trust in politics and harms the dignity of Parliament,” he told the audience on Thursday, which included Gürlek and Çiftçi. Both ministers greeted AK Party members at the meeting and thanked Erdoğan for their appointment.
Gürlek has been targeted by several prominent members of the CHP, including Özel. Istanbul’s former mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, who was arrested for corruption last March, was also being tried for publicly threatening Gürlek and his family after the latter was investigated by Gürlek’s office.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli also had scathing remarks against the CHP over the scuffle at Parliament. In a written statement, the head of the government ally said the CHP would not be excused for its anti-democratic and fascist actions.
“This intolerant attitude has nothing to do with democracy and politics. The CHP’s depressing political attitude targets the Turkish state and its administration, and they are obviously hostile to the national will. We fully support our new ministers,” he said.
National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalın met with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, the Libyan government said in a statement on Thursday.
The meeting addressed issues of mutual interest, as well as recent local and regional developments.
The two sides emphasized the importance of strengthening coordinated international efforts to support Libya’s political process, it said.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to continued consultation and coordination to promote stability in the region.
In August, Kalın held a rare meeting with putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar in Libya’s Benghazi.
Libya has been divided since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, with rival administrations in the east and west vying for power. Türkiye remains a key supporter of the Tripoli-based government while simultaneously expanding contacts with eastern authorities.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani on Thursday, discussing bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments, according to a statement made by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.
The two leaders reviewed steps to further enhance cooperation between Türkiye and Iraq, with a particular focus on trade and broader economic engagement.
Erdoğan underscored that Ankara would continue taking concrete steps to deepen ties across multiple sectors, stressing that stronger cooperation serves the mutual interests of both neighboring countries.
The president also emphasized the importance of intensifying collaboration in the fight against terrorism, noting that closer coordination would benefit both Türkiye and Iraq and contribute to regional stability.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining dialogue and strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoHere is the behind the scenes of the operation against TL: Berat Albayrak’s counter moves ruined their game! What happened during that period?
-
Politics3 days agoTurkish mediator Fidan highlights US, Iran flexible on nuclear deal
-
Sports3 days agoICE to anchor security core for 2026 World Cup: Director Lyons
-
Politics3 days agoMitsotakis gets warm welcome as Ankara sees brighter side in ties
-
Politics3 days agoReport on terror-free Türkiye focuses on laws to promote disarmament
-
Politics3 days agoTürkiye-Greece issues complicated but not unsolvable: Erdoğan
-
Sports3 days agoTurkish wrestler Kayaalp rebounds from setback with renewed hunger
-
Politics3 days ago3 migrants killed after boat sinks off western Türkiye