Israel’s support for terrorist groups claiming to represent Kurdish interests in the Middle East is no secret but recent media reports have pointed out that Tel Aviv wanted to take it a step further. Reports say Israel, with its ally the United States, sought to employ those groups as a proxy force in a ground offensive in Iran where the duo launched strikes in February. Türkiye, however, intervened and prevented the plan.

Amid reports that the U.S. is planning to deploy thousands of soldiers in an impending land operation against Iran, another plan by Israel seeking to recruit Kurds in Iraq and within Iran was exposed. Israel went as far as bombing Iran’s military outposts on the Iranian-Iraqi border to clear the way for the said groups. Eventually, a group of about 500 people left Iraq for Iran, supposedly to join a fight against Iran. Yet, Türkiye, monitoring the situation, stepped in and eventually forced Israel to scrap its plans to employ about 10,000 as a proxy force.

Türkiye held senior-level talks with top officials in Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to prevent arming Kurds for a war against Iran and urged the representatives of the region’s political dynasties, the Barzanis and Talabanis, not “to fall for the trap.” Ankara stressed that Kurds would not be supported in any way if they joined the war against Iran. This staunch stand forced Kurdish groups to stand down.

Separately, Türkiye indirectly warned the PKK, a terrorist group known for exploiting the Kurdish community in Türkiye, not to join Israel. Turkish officials warned that Ankara would take action if this happened, giving the example of Syria. Türkiye deployed troops in Syria during the civil war when the PKK affiliate YPG sought to control Syrian towns near the Turkish border.

The PKK’s jailed ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, who joined the terror-free Türkiye initiative for disarmament of the PKK, also warned the PKK not to act upon the instructions of Israel and not to join the war against Iran.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced Türkiye’s concerns about the war in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month, highlighting that Ankara did not want to be a part of the conflict. During the same phone call, Erdoğan relayed Türkiye’s stand on the use of Kurdish groups as a proxy force to Trump.

Efkan Ala, deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said last Thursday that the terror-free Türkiye plan may be affected by the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. However, he reaffirmed that the process would be completed anyway. He pointed out that the region was embroiled in an unstable situation and that a terror-free Türkiye was important to maintain the country’s unity among such uncertainties. The government views the initiative as a step to strengthen Turkish-Kurdish unity. For decades, the PKK exploited the Kurdish community in the region, under the pretext of fighting for a so-called Kurdistan in the southeastern Türkiye.

The U.S.-Israel-Iran war follows lengthy protests against the Tehran administration. The U.S. and Israel openly endorsed the protests and called for regime change. When this failed, they carried out strikes that slaughtered top figures, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran had already been facing a separatist threat from the PJAK, the PKK’s arm in Iran, though its campaign appears to have died down in parallel with the PKK’s dwindling attacks thanks to a comprehensive counterterrorism campaign by Türkiye.

Speaking on Saturday at the International Strategic Communication Summit 2026 (Stratcom Summit ’26) held in Istanbul by Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head Ibrahim Kalın warned against “a fireball of strife” unfolding in the region. “The calculated consequences of this war are not confined to eliminating Iran’s nuclear capacity, but they also include steps that may pave the way for a decades-long feud between Turks, Kurds, Arabs and Farsi communities. This is far more dangerous than other consequences. Türkiye, nevertheless, is on alert against this,” he said. Kalın highlighted that Türkiye has never fuelled strife. “We are ready to handle this fireball and cool it off. We will stand against those attempting to spread the strife, with our values, our leadership, our priorities. We are aware who the enemies are and who the friends are,” he said.

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The spillover of Ukraine-Russia war continues threatening the security in Black Sea. Türkiye has identified 275 suspicious objects in the Black Sea to date, including drifting mines, kamikaze drones and unmanned surface vehicles, the Ministry of National Defense said Saturday.

Of them, 29 have been neutralized, the ministry said in a statement.

Amid threats posed by drifting mines during the Russia-Ukraine War, an agreement was signed on Jan. 11, 2024, under Türkiye’s leadership, with the participation of Romania and Bulgaria, to establish the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group (MCM Black Sea).

The statement noted that since March 26, 2022, following the outbreak of the war, the Turkish navy has continuously carried out reconnaissance, surveillance, patrol and disposal operations targeting mines, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unexploded ordnance in the Black Sea.

“As part of efforts to protect our maritime jurisdiction areas, under Operation Black Sea Harmony, two frigates, one submarine, one patrol vessel, one maritime patrol aircraft, one helicopter and one UAV are deployed. For mine surveillance activities, two minehunter ships, one fast attack craft, three helicopters, one underwater defense team and one UAV are on duty,” the statement said.

It added that during operations and surveillance activities conducted so far, Turkish naval units logged 28,150 hours at sea, while maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and UAVs carried out 1,554 sorties totaling 7,711 flight hours.

“A total of 275 suspicious objects have been detected to date. Of these, 10 were identified as mines, eight as kamikaze UAVs and 11 as kamikaze USVs. All identified threats were successfully neutralized by underwater defense teams,” it said.

The ministry said three Bayraktar TB2 drones have been deployed to Cengiz Topel Airport since Dec. 17, 2025, alongside two additional frigates assigned to the Black Sea to strengthen surveillance and respond to aerial and maritime threats.

Currently, four maritime patrol sorties and four UAV sorties are conducted weekly in the Black Sea, alongside helicopter-supported mine surveillance flights, the statement said.

The ministry said operations are being conducted in close coordination with the Turkish Coast Guard Command, relevant ministries, civilian maritime institutions, and neighboring Black Sea countries’ surveillance assets.

It added that monitoring of drilling, research, and support vessels in the western Black Sea continues uninterrupted.

The Turkish navy has taken maximum precautions since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war to protect Türkiye from drifting mines, UAVs and USVs, while maintaining close coordination with relevant state institutions, the statement concluded.

In the latest instance of Black Sea security risk, a marine drone struck a crude oil tanker ⁠that had departed Russia, causing an ⁠explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait on Thursday.

“The attack ​on the Sierra Leone-flagged, Turkish-operated tanker ALTURA carrying crude ​oil is ⁠of great concern,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said on X, adding that the 27 crew members were in good health.

Keçeli said the attack took place within Türkiye’s exclusive economic zone and violated international law, warning such incidents posed serious risks to life, property, navigation and the environment in the Black Sea. He added that Türkiye was in contact with relevant parties to prevent further escalation ⁠and reserved the right to take necessary measures under international law to protect its economic interests and activities in the region.

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Israel poses the biggest obstacle to peace in the region, as it continues to leverage its structural influence over U.S. politics while pursuing a broader strategic agenda for the region, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, warning that continued war risks deepening regional instability and creating long-term divisions between societies.

Speaking on a live broadcast on a Haber, Fidan said the war, unfolding “before the eyes of the entire world,” is having severe consequences for both the region and global politics, adding that Türkiye’s priority from the outset has been to prevent the conflict, contain its spread and keep the country out of the war.

He reiterated that Israel’s position remains the primary barrier to achieving peace, as Türkiye continues to push for an immediate cease-fire and a diplomatic resolution.

Fidan said Israel continues to leverage its structural influence over U.S. politics while pursuing a broader strategic agenda for the region, warning that this dynamic remains the biggest obstacle to peace.

“If Israel believes there are further opportunities to exploit or deepen the conflict based on its analysis of the current war, it will continue on this path,” he said. “At this point, the biggest obstacle to peace is Israel’s position.”

Fidan noted that the United States is facing growing domestic pressure ahead of upcoming elections, with public scrutiny mounting over the continuation of the war.

He said Washington’s initial military objectives – first targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities and later its missile and defense industry infrastructure – have largely been declared achieved, raising questions about the rationale for prolonging the conflict.

“Both the American public and the international community are asking: if these objectives have been met, why continue a war that carries serious global economic consequences?” Fidan said.

He pointed to increasing pressure on the U.S. administration to justify the continuation of the conflict, adding that this has also fueled ongoing, albeit cautious, efforts toward a diplomatic resolution.

Fidan stressed, however, that a key challenge remains the international community’s inability to exert effective pressure on Israel, similar to the situation seen in Gaza.

“The problem, as in Gaza and other cases, is that the world cannot apply meaningful pressure on Israel,” he said.

He added that if the U.S. seeks to reach a negotiated settlement with Iran, it will need to be prepared to use its influence over Israel more decisively.

“If Washington is to reach an agreement with Iran, it must be willing to exercise serious leverage over Israel. We will see who can exert influence over whom,” Fidan said, describing the situation as a structural issue at the heart of the conflict.

He warned that beyond immediate destruction, the conflict risks leaving behind long-term instability, comparing its impact to lasting damage that can prevent recovery for decades.

“Even if this war ends at some point, the instability it leaves behind could last for years. Conflicts between societies and countries can create deep-rooted hostility, making cooperation, development and prosperity nearly impossible,” Fidan said.

Fidan noted that Türkiye has been working intensively through diplomatic channels since the outbreak of the conflict, as it did during last year’s “12-day war,” to push for a cease-fire and de-escalation.

He said negotiations appear to have reached an initial stage, with indirect contacts underway through Pakistan and coordination continuing with both the U.S and Iran.

“Today, we held extensive talks with both sides to better understand their positions and expectations,” he said, adding that Türkiye is actively conveying messages between the parties.

Fidan underlined that current negotiating positions have shifted significantly compared to those before the war, particularly for Iran, which had entered talks to avoid such a conflict.

“Now that the war has caused a certain level of destruction, Iran’s expectations in negotiations will naturally be different,” he said, noting that this complicates mediation efforts.

He emphasized that initial positions in negotiations are often deliberately set high and should not be taken at face value.

“If there is genuine intent on both sides, a point of convergence can always be found,” Fidan said.

The top Turkish diplomat stressed that the key to progress lies in sustaining negotiations, ensuring sincerity and rebuilding trust between the parties.

He pointed to Iran’s deep loss of confidence in the United States following previous negotiation rounds that collapsed into conflict, while noting that Washington is currently showing willingness to engage diplomatically.

Israel’s strategy risks deepening divisions among Muslim countries

Fidan said Israel’s actions during the war risk planting long-term divisions across the region, warning that the conflict could make unity among Muslim countries increasingly difficult.

“At this stage, we see that as war was launched against Iran, a dangerous seed of discord has also been sown in the region through Israeli expansionism — one that could make it nearly impossible for Muslims in the region to come together again,” he said.

He stressed that Türkiye’s top priority is to prevent such divisions from taking root, adding that Ankara had advised Iran from the outset to avoid actions that could escalate tensions with neighboring countries.

Fidan recalled that during the previous “12-day war,” Iran refrained from targeting Gulf countries despite being attacked, and said Türkiye encouraged a similar approach in the current situation.

He warned that retaliatory actions could create long-term consequences that would ultimately serve Israel’s strategic interests.

“We advised all parties: remain patient and avoid reactions that could leave lasting damage. This would play directly into Israel’s desired scenario – prolonged conflict among Islamic countries in the region,” he said.

Fidan said Türkiye has consistently urged both Iran and other regional actors not to fall into what he described as a trap, emphasizing that Ankara’s diplomatic efforts are built around preventing such escalation.

“This is why we are often targeted by Israel, because we recognize this strategy and are trying to counter it,” he added.

He acknowledged that the prevailing mood in the region is far from calm, with countries increasingly adopting more hardline positions due to ongoing attacks.

“The dominant psychology is: ‘We are under attack and must respond,” Fidan said, noting that even countries that have supported Iran are now leaning toward stronger reactions.

He said Türkiye, along with Pakistan, has been among the few actors reminding regional countries to focus on the broader picture and underlying causes of the conflict.

“Many countries are acting under pressure, as they are facing missile strikes and attacks, and are struggling to respond to their own public, which is living under constant alarm and in shelters,” he said.

Fidan added that Türkiye has sought to calm tensions, including during a high-level meeting in Riyadh convened to address the attacks.

He said Türkiye emphasized that the strikes were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of U.S. and Israeli actions in the region.

“While we consider these attacks unjustified, our position is clear: countries that have not provoked conflict should not be targeted. Such actions neither serve Iran’s strategy nor regional stability, and instead create conditions that benefit Israel in the long term,” he said.

Fidan noted that tensions escalated further even during the Riyadh meeting, with missiles launched toward the Saudi capital.

Fidan also warned that unforeseen developments could still arise, regardless of the parties’ intentions, but said Türkiye is maintaining intensive contacts at the highest level to prevent escalation.

He highlighted the role of regional mediators, saying Pakistan is playing a central role, while Türkiye is in constant coordination with Egypt and other countries in the region. European partners are also closely engaged in diplomatic efforts.

Fidan said there is a broad global consensus, similar to the Gaza war, that the conflict must end as soon as possible, stressing that this expectation now needs to be translated into concrete action by key countries.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Sunday, hours after he arrived for talks on the U.S.-Israel-Iran war.

Fidan and Dar are expected to be joined by their Egyptian and Saudi counterparts in Islamabad for two days of talks to end the raging conflict.

Türkiye and Pakistan have been active in working to end the conflict, with both also mentioned as possible venues for direct talks between Iran and the U.S. toward a peaceful settlement.

Top diplomats from Riyadh, Cairo and Ankara are due in the Pakistani capital Sunday and Monday for “in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

As part of preparations, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said he had a “detailed telephone conversation with my brother President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran earlier today (Saturday), lasting over one hour.”

“I reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks on Iran, including recent strikes on civilian infrastructure, and conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the brave people of Iran,” he wrote on X.

Sharif said he also expressed his condolences “on the tragic loss of precious lives and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and displaced.”

“I apprised him of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach, engaging the United States and brotherly Gulf and Islamic countries, to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation.”

Sharif’s office said separately that Pezeshkian “stressed upon the need to build trust in order to facilitate talks and mediation.”

The pair have spoken previously in recent weeks about the conflict and Pakistan’s commitment to bringing it to an end.

Islamabad has longstanding links with Tehran and close contacts in the Gulf, while Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have struck up a personal rapport with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Late on Friday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the private A Haber broadcaster that the meeting was initially planned to be held in Türkiye.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said earlier on Friday he expected a direct U.S.-Iran meeting in Pakistan “very soon,” without revealing his source.

While Tehran has refused to admit to holding official talks with Washington, Iran has passed a response to Trump’s 15-point plan to end the war via Islamabad, according to an anonymous source cited by the Iranian Tasnim news agency.

Fidan said on Saturday that the “unlawful strikes” against Iran are pushing the region toward the brink of a wider war, fueled by “relentless Israeli escalation.”

Speaking at the opening of the second day of the International Strategic Communication Summit (STRATCOM) 2026 in Istanbul, Fidan said: “We reject any scenario that drags regional states into a devastating conflict,” adding: “Iranian actions affecting Gulf nations carry precisely this risk. Let us be clear. This may be Israel’s war of choice, but the entire world is paying the price.”

Fidan stated that as the conflict prolongs, the geopolitical and economic complications multiply at an alarming rate. “From day one, Türkiye has grown against this dangerous trajectory.”

“This is a war engineered for Netanyahu’s political survival, yet its burden unfortunately falls upon the rest of the world,” the foreign minister said, warning that the crisis could leave enduring scars not only in cities but also in the hearts and minds of the peoples of the region.

“There is only one viable way out for us. That is the escalation and diplomacy,” Fidan emphasized.

Regarding Israel’s latest aggression in Lebanon, he said: “We (Türkiye) declared our strong opposition to Israel’s expansionist policies, particularly its latest aggression against Lebanon. To operationalize these efforts, we continue our constant high-level dialogue. Our objective is to chart out actionable steps to end this conflict as soon as possible.”

“This senseless war must end. Before further destruction unfolds, before deeper enmities take root, before the global economy suffers irreversible damage. The channels of dialogue must be open, and a result-oriented negotiation process must commence swiftly,” Fidan further added.

Fidan warned that while pursuing peace, Türkiye’s leadership must not let Netanyahu’s extreme stance derail diplomacy, highlighting that “this engineered chaos” aims to keep the regional nations “weak, divided, and vulnerable.”

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Legal troubles are mounting for Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) as a fresh wave of bribery and corruption investigations has led to the detention of another mayor and dozens of municipal officials, prosecutors said Friday.

Operations targeting CHP-run municipalities in Uşak and Marmaris resulted in the detention of 24 people, including Özkan Yalım and a deputy mayor in Marmaris, according to authorities. The detentions mark the latest development in a series of probes focusing on opposition-led local governments.

At least a dozen CHP mayors have been detained or arrested since last year, with several more facing ongoing corruption and bribery investigations or trials. High-profile cases include Istanbul’s suspended mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, and Antalya’s ousted mayor, Muhittin Böcek, whose cases have drawn national attention following their arrests late last year and trials that began earlier this month.

Friday’s operation was coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, with raids carried out in Uşak, Ankara and Kocaeli. Prosecutors allege that Yalım and 12 others received bribes from individuals and companies in connection with municipal tenders.

According to the investigation, Uşak Municipality is accused of using duplicate invoicing in public tenders, with the difference allegedly collected as illicit payments. Authorities also claim that companies were pressured to provide business partnerships to individuals linked to the mayor’s family in exchange for securing contracts.

Prosecutors further allege that deputy mayors collected large sums of money under the guise of donations to Uşakspor, a local football club, but transferred the funds into personal accounts. Some payments were allegedly delivered in cash to the mayor’s office and handled without receipts.

The investigation also points to alleged misuse of municipal funds, including expenses at entertainment venues that were reportedly billed to the municipality as “representation and hospitality” costs.

Authorities claim that Yalım transferred all his registered assets to his driver, Cihan Aras, in 2025 to avoid possible seizure. Prosecutors also allege that a municipal position was given to an individual with personal ties to the mayor despite no evidence of actual employment.

Financial findings by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) revealed high-value money movements, including large cash deposits, asset purchases and international transfers with unidentified sources. Investigators said these transactions were inconsistent with the suspects’ financial profiles and supported by communication records and witness statements.

Authorities also allege that personnel working at a facility linked to Yalım were registered as municipal employees, with their insurance premiums paid by the municipality. In another claim, prosecutors said a businessman who refused to meet a vehicle request from the mayor later faced administrative penalties against his business.

Marmaris probe

Separately, prosecutors in Muğla launched an investigation into the CHP-run Marmaris Municipality over alleged bribery and irregularities in zoning and permit processes.

The probe alleges that certain municipal officials coordinated irregular transactions through selected personnel for financial gain, particularly in construction, tourism and business licensing.

Arrest warrants were issued for multiple suspects, including the deputy mayor, urban planning officials and municipal police personnel. Police conducted searches at residences, workplaces and municipal offices.

Thirteen people, including eight municipal employees, were detained as part of the operation.

CHP Muğla lawmaker Cumhur Uzun described the investigation as an isolated case in remarks to reporters outside the municipality building.

The latest developments add to growing scrutiny surrounding CHP-run municipalities, as investigations into alleged bribery, corruption and financial misconduct continue across multiple regions.

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Türkiye’s defense minister on Friday dismissed allegations that the private jet of U.S. financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein used Incirlik Air Base, saying there is no evidence the aircraft landed, took off or transited through the strategic military facility.

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler made the statement in response to a written parliamentary question from opposition Good Party (IP) lawmaker Selcan Taşcı, who asked whether Incirlik, a Turkish Air Forces Command base that hosts NATO operations, had been used in connection with Epstein’s jet and whether any safeguards were in place to prevent human trafficking and the illegal transport of children at military bases.

In his reply, Güler stressed that all Turkish military air bases are classified as first-degree restricted zones under national law, accessible only to authorized personnel and vehicles with special permits subject to biometric checks and identity verification.

“The facility is a Turkish Air Force installation owned by the Republic of Türkiye,” Güler said in a written response. “All materials entering or leaving Incirlik Air Base from abroad are handled by the Incirlik Customs Directorate under the Trade Ministry, and individuals entering or exiting from abroad are processed by the Passport Police under the Interior Ministry in accordance with relevant legislation. There is no report, complaint or official notification regarding the allegations.”

Epstein, an American financier who was jailed and died in U.S. custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors, owned and operated a fleet of private jets during his lifetime. Some of those aircraft were reportedly used to fly associates, clients and young women between his properties in the U.S. and the Caribbean, including his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands and his Zorro Ranch in New Mexico.

Taşcı’s question also asked whether the Defense Ministry had put in place special monitoring or risk-prevention mechanisms to guard against exploitation related to human trafficking at military facilities. Güler’s statement reiterated that strict access controls and security procedures govern all Turkish military air bases but did not provide additional details on any dedicated anti-trafficking measures.

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