Politics
US troops withdraw from key base in Syria after YPG deal
Quoting the Defense Ministry, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported on Sunday that the army took over Shaddadi military base with coordination with the United States.
The move follows the U.S. pullout from al-Tanf strategic base after a deal to integrate the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG into central Syrian institutions.
Syrian and U.S. officials stressed Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
The Syrian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss key local and regional developments.
Both sides emphasized the unity of Syria, its sovereignty, and the integrity of its territory. The U.S. reaffirmed its support for the Syrian government.
Washington also expressed support for the recent integration agreement between the government and the YPG, as well as Syria’s efforts to combat Daesh.
Syria formally joined the anti-Daesh coalition last November. The coalition was formed in 2014 and has carried out military operations against the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq, though Damascus was not previously a member.
The talks also addressed relations between Syria and the U.S. and ways to develop cooperation in various fields.
The U.S. State Department said in a separate statement on Saturday that Rubio affirmed U.S. support for a Syria that is “stable, at peace” with its neighbors, and protects the rights of all its ethnic and religious minority groups. Rubio “welcomed the Syrian government’s commitment to fully cooperate with the United States and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS,” deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, using another name for Daesh. The secretary of state also emphasized the importance of implementing the permanent cease-fire and integration agreement in northeastern Syria, and ensuring full respect and safety for the rights of all Syrians, Pigott added.
On Jan. 18, the Syrian government and theYPG reached a comprehensive cease-fire and full integration agreement, outlining sweeping measures to restore state authority in the northeast.
Syrian security forces and administrative bodies have entered areas previously controlled by the YPG, including Hassakeh, Qamishli and Ain al-Arab (Kobani), as well as strategic facilities such as airports, oil fields, and border crossings.
The agreement provides for the gradual handover of security responsibilities, the deployment of state institutions, and the integration of YPG forces into official government structures.
The Syrian Army launched an operation against the YPG on Jan. 16 in areas west of the Euphrates River. The operation later expanded east of the river with the participation of tribal forces, leading to all of the territories previously occupied by the group coming under government control.
Last week, Syrian forces took control of the strategic al-Tanf military base near the border with Iraq and Jordan following the withdrawal of a long-standing U.S. troop presence. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) officials have acknowledged that it was an orderly pullout long in planning. Al-Tanf was established at the height of Syrian civil war, a time when Daesh emerged as a major threat in the region. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled a drawdown of U.S. troops in Syria though no full pullout was considered for a long time.
Though official figures are not available, Al-Jazeera reported that the size of the U.S. deployment in Syria significantly declined last year. Currently, 900 troops are in Syria, according to a report from last week.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stepped up Türkiye’s diplomatic outreach in New York on Thursday, meeting senior EU and foreign officials while joining international talks focused on Libya’s political unity, security and economic future.
Fidan attended the “International Support for Peace, Unity and Prosperity in Libya” meeting on the sidelines of the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Officials from Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K., France, Italy, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia also joined the meeting, which focused on the U.N.-led political process in Libya as well as the country’s economic prosperity and security.
Addressing the gathering, Fidan stressed that stability and security in Libya were important for the wider region and said Türkiye would continue to actively contribute to efforts in this direction.
Referring to his Aug. 11-12 visit to Libya, during which he held talks in Tripoli and Benghazi, Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s support for efforts to establish a unified government under Ankara’s “One Libya” policy.
He called on international partners to maintain dialogue with all Libyan parties and actors without discrimination and stressed the need to support a political process led and owned by Libyans.
Fidan also highlighted Türkiye’s capacity-building assistance aimed at unifying and strengthening Libya’s economic and security institutions, saying Ankara was prepared to play a key role in the country’s development and security.
Alongside the Libya talks, Fidan met EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at the Turkish House. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced the meeting but did not provide details about the discussions.
Fidan separately met EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
His diplomatic engagements also included separate meetings with Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic and Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen.
Turkish Cypriot officials on Thursday condemned remarks by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, while reiterating their support for a two-state solution to the decades-old Cyprus dispute.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said he strongly condemned Christodoulides’ remarks about Erdoğan and highlighted that the Greek Cypriot leadership is presenting a distorted account of the island’s history.
“If hypocrisy is to be sought in Cyprus, the address is clear: the Greek Cypriot leadership and those who unconditionally applaud it,” Üstel said in a written statement.
Üstel argued that the roots of the Cyprus dispute lay in the breakdown of the power-sharing Republic of Cyprus established in 1960 and the exclusion of Turkish Cypriots from the government in the 1960s.
He also cited violence and displacement experienced by Turkish Cypriots between 1963 and 1974 and defended the continued presence of Turkish troops on the island as a security guarantee for the Turkish Cypriot community.
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry separately condemned Christodoulides’ U.N. address, accusing him of making “baseless allegations” against Türkiye and ignoring the experiences of Turkish Cypriots during the conflict.
The ministry also rejected renewed calls for a federal settlement, arguing that decades of negotiations based on that model had failed because the Greek Cypriot side had not accepted the equal status of Turkish Cypriots.
It said a lasting settlement could instead be achieved through recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people.
The statements followed Erdoğan’s address to the 81st U.N. General Assembly in New York, where he reiterated Türkiye’s position on Cyprus and called on the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and establish diplomatic, political and economic relations with it.
Recently, Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides met under U.N. auspices in the United Nations Protected Area in Nicosia (Lefkoşa), discussing confidence-building measures, methodology and substantive issues related to the decadeslong Cyprus dispute.
The United Nations described the talks as a “good discussion” and said the two leaders would brief U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on their work and discuss the way forward during upcoming engagements in New York.
Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriot leadership advocate a two-state settlement based on sovereign equality, while the Greek Cypriot side supports a bizonal, bicommunal federation under U.N. parameters.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan denounced Israel’s policies in Gaza and its occupation and annexation activities across Palestinian territories as he addressed mounting conflicts and crises across the Muslim world at an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in New York.
Fidan addressed the OIC Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly.
In his remarks, Fidan criticized Israel’s continuing “genocidal policies” in Gaza, as well as its occupation and annexation activities across Palestinian territories and attacks on Syria and Lebanon.
He also discussed a range of other issues affecting the Muslim world, particularly developments involving Iran, Yemen, Libya, Sudan and Somalia.
Fidan emphasized the importance of the OIC’s role in protecting the rights of Muslim minorities and communities.
Türkiye currently holds the rotating presidency of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers after assuming the role at the 51st session, which it hosted in Istanbul on June 21-22, 2025, under the theme “The OIC in a Transforming World.”
The annual coordination meeting, held during U.N. General Assembly week, provides OIC foreign ministers with an additional opportunity to exchange views beyond the organization’s formal Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, which is held annually.
The council may also convene extraordinary sessions to address major developments affecting the Muslim world.
At the 51st Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul, OIC members adopted two resolutions on Palestine and emphasized the importance of establishing a common position among member states on the Palestinian issue. The meeting also adopted the Istanbul Declaration.
Türkiye previously hosted meetings of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in 1976, 1991 and 2004.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Kyiv supports Türkiye hosting a trilateral leaders’ summit aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, saying Ukraine would be ready to attend if such talks could help deliver peace.
Zelenskyy made the remarks after meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Turkish House, or Türkevi, in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Describing the talks as productive, Zelenskyy said Erdoğan told him Türkiye was prepared to host a trilateral meeting at the leaders’ level.
“If the president can organize such a meeting, we support the idea of holding it in Türkiye,” Zelenskyy said. “We have always said that we have good relations with Türkiye and the president. Therefore, we would be ready to attend such a summit if it can be useful and bring peace.”
Türkiye has maintained diplomatic channels with both Ukraine and Russia throughout the war and has repeatedly offered to host negotiations aimed at securing a settlement.
Zelenskyy also highlighted growing economic ties between Ankara and Kyiv, noting that Ukraine’s Parliament had ratified the bilateral free trade agreement.
“We decided to increase trade between our countries from $1 billion to $10 billion,” he said. “We are moving in that direction and have very good results.”
The two leaders also discussed security in the Black Sea, which Zelenskyy said remains critical to global food security.
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş resigned from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in an announcement on Wednesday, saying, “I am resigning my membership in the Republican People’s Party and will continue my political path as an independent.”
In a statement on social media, Yavaş said his decision to leave the CHP was not made out of anger or resentment but after careful consideration.
He noted political and legal disputes that began on March 19 and later included debate over the possible annulment of CHP party congresses had brought Turkish politics to a difficult point.
Yavaş said he had sought throughout his tenure to demonstrate a model of municipal governance in Ankara based on transparency, accountability and equal treatment, while using public funds for the benefit of residents.
He also said he had never viewed himself as being above political parties and argued that any democratic change of government in Türkiye would depend on opposition parties finding common ground rather than becoming consumed by internal disputes.
The mayor underlined that he had repeatedly warned that months of political and legal disputes within the CHP risked creating deep divisions in the party and could damage broader confidence in democratic politics.
“I had previously said that if there was discomfort within the party regarding me or the position I had taken, I would do what was necessary,” he said, adding, “Because of some statements made today, I am resigning my membership in the Republican People’s Party and will continue my political path as an independent.”
Yavaş also thanked CHP members and supporters who had worked alongside him during three election campaigns, saying he would remain grateful to those who had supported and placed their trust in him.
CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also commented on Yavaş’s decision to leave the party. “A resignation is a unilateral decision. It is his own political choice,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.
Moreover, CHP spokesperson Müslim Sarı responded to Yavaş’s resignation from the party, describing the decision as Yavaş’s own political choice.
“A resignation is a unilateral legal act. The mayor has therefore exercised his own will and clarified his political affiliation,” Sarı said.
Sarı said the CHP would have preferred Yavaş to continue his political career within the party, noting that party officials had expressed that position on several occasions.
“We would have preferred him to remain in politics within the institutional framework of the Republican People’s Party,” Sarı said. “But this is his own assessment.”
Sarı had previously criticized Yavaş over what he described as questions of party loyalty, saying the CHP’s institutional identity should take precedence over individual politicians.
“The CHP’s institutional identity is above all of us and comes before all of us. No one is above the CHP, and no one should see themselves as being above the CHP,” Sarı said.
He added that the party expected all of its mayors to participate in events and activities related to the CHP.
Sarı had also criticized Yavaş after the Ankara mayor said both CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and New Party (YP) leader Özgür Özel had been informed about his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“A mayor cannot say, when taking an action, that he informed the leader of another party in addition to his own party leader,” Sarı had warned.
Mayors follow Yavaş
Four district mayors in the Turkish capital Ankara also announced their resignations from the main opposition CHP shortly after Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş said he was leaving the party to continue his political career as an independent.
The mayors of Beypazarı, Kalecik, Güdül and Polatlı announced their decisions separately on social media, with several saying they would continue to work alongside Yavaş.
Beypazarı Mayor Özer Kasap said he was leaving the CHP and would continue serving as an independent, stressing that his priority remained providing services to residents of the district.
“I stand behind the promises I made to my fellow citizens who trusted and supported me on this path we embarked on with Mayor Mansur Yavaş.”
Kalecik Mayor Satılmış Karakoç also said he would continue his mayoral duties as an independent while maintaining his political alignment with Yavaş.
Karakoç stated his approach to local government would remain unchanged and that he would continue serving residents regardless of their political views.
“Our responsibility toward Kalecik will not change,” he said, adding that he would remain alongside Yavaş.
Güdül Mayor Mehmet Doğanay cited disagreements with the CHP’s current leadership and an ongoing political and legal dispute within the party as reasons for his resignation.
Doğanay said his decision did not represent a break with the CHP’s historical legacy or the principles of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye and the CHP.
He said he would continue working with Yavaş while serving Güdül as an independent mayor.
Polatlı Mayor Mürsel Yıldızkaya similarly announced that he was leaving the CHP, citing issues raised by Yavaş in his own resignation statement.
Yıldızkaya said he would continue his political activities and municipal work independently alongside Yavaş.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in New York on Wednesday, as Türkiye and Armenia continue efforts to advance a yearslong normalization process between the two neighbors.
The closed-door meeting was held at the Turkish House, or Türkevi, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Turkish Presidency said.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also attended the meeting.
Erdoğan has been holding a series of bilateral talks with world leaders during his visit to New York for the annual U.N. gathering.
Türkiye and Armenia have intensified diplomatic contacts in recent years in an effort to normalize relations after decades of strained ties. The two countries appointed special representatives for normalization talks in late 2021, while direct flights and air cargo links have since resumed.
The normalization process has gained further momentum alongside efforts to establish lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Ankara has repeatedly said progress in Türkiye-Armenia relations and a comprehensive peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan could help unlock greater regional stability, connectivity and economic cooperation in the South Caucasus.
Türkiye and Armenia do not currently have full diplomatic relations, while their land border, closed since 1993, has yet to fully reopen.
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