Politics
Syria moves forward with dissolving autonomy for US-backed terrorists
Ahmed al-Hilali, senior Syrian official serving as spokesperson for the integration of the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG, says the self-styled autonomy of the group will soon come to an end, as he confirmed progress in a deal with the YPG.
Speaking to Syrian TV earlier this week, al-Hilali said they had no intention to keep the YPG’s structures, from the autonomous administration to cantons and Asayish (security) forces, in place and that those would be dissolved. He noted that YPG leader Ferhat Abdi Şahin is scheduled to announce the full dissolution soon.
The post-Baathist administration in Damascus moved against the YPG when the latter reneged on an earlier deal for integration into the Syrian army. On Jan. 16, the Syrian army launched an offensive against YPG-controlled areas in northeastern Syria. After days of the offensive, the YPG consented to sign a new deal with Damascus on integrating both “administrative” and “military” structures of the YPG to post-Assad Syria. The terrorist group agreed that Syrian security forces would be deployed in Hassakeh and Qamishli, two key areas occupied by the YPG.
The deal also stipulated a faster integration of armed members of the YPG into Syrian security forces and the creation of a division consisting of three brigades of the YPG.
Al-Hilali said the process has been initially slow but the pace has been so far good for the government, though he acknowledged that it may take more months.
This week, the process will move forward with the issue of people detained by the YPG during the December 2024 revolution that toppled the Assad regime. The YPG is required to release all who joined the revolution and must ensure the return of the people displaced due to the conflict. Al-Hilali said YPG-run prisons will be handed over to the government control.
He added that another step will be ending the checkpoints of Asayish of the YPG and control of all checkpoints will be retained by the Syrian security forces. Asayish is also banned from conducting arrests, further dissolving its role as “security force” of the YPG.
The YPG, the Syrian wing of the terrorist group PKK, neither complied with Türkiye’s terror-free initiative for disarmament of the PKK, nor with a March 2025 deal for integration with the Syrian security forces. Türkiye is a major supporter of post-Assad Syria and views the YPG as a threat to its own national security. Ankara has hinted that it may resort to a military option in Syria as it did in the past to thwart the YPG’s ambitions, but repeatedly called for dialogue to resolve the dispute between the YPG and Damascus.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is challenged by a spate of corruption probes on its mayors.
Though most accusations focus on how they took bribes from businesspeople, details in some investigations disclosed mayors, from Istanbul and Antalya to Uşak and Bolu, also exploited municipal resources to fund lavish lifestyles of girlfriends, often in extramarital affairs.
For instance, an indictment of the mayor of Mediterranean province Antalya, Muhittin Böcek, points out to fast-tracked career of Melek K., the mayor’s girlfriend, at the Antalya municipality. Melek K. was hired by the municipality as a tea vendor in 2013 and in 10 years, she was promoted to the rank of civil servant and later to the rank of inspector at a municipal subsidiary. She was also assigned the municipality’s chauffeurs courtesy of Böcek. The indictment also revealed the mayor’s son, Gökhan, had a girlfriend working at the municipality and purchased millions of dollars of gifts for her, from luxury vehicles to watches and jewellery.
The indictment accepted by the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court against Böcek accuses him and other defendants of a range of offenses, including bribery through coercion, illicit enrichment, influence peddling, money laundering, aggravated fraud and defamation. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of between 15 years and six months to 44 years for Böcek on charges including coercive bribery, unjust enrichment and laundering of assets derived from criminal activity. The indictment also calls for increased penalties under provisions related to repeated or organized offenses.
Istanbul’s former Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who was arrested last March on charges of corruption, also provided financial support to volleyball player Derya Çayırgan, reportedly the girlfriend of the married mayor. Çayırgan paid TL 800,000 instead of the listed price of TL 4.1 million for a residence in Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district constructed by a company whose owner claimed he paid a bribe to Imamoğlu. Çayırgan, who was recently questioned by investigators, failed to explain the discount, while witnesses in a separate probe on drug-related charges toward Çayırgan claimed that Imamoğlu funded Çayırgan.
Dubbed “corruption of the century” by some Turkish media outlets, Imamoğlu and his associates at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) are accused of involvement in 143 acts of bribery and corruption. Their actions cost the public TL 161 billion ($3.65 billion), according to the prosecutors.
The businessman-turned-mayor faces prison terms of up to 2,352 years for multiple instances of corruption that mainly revolve around bribery accusations from businesspeople in exchange for operating, construction permits and accusations of widespread rigging in lucrative tenders of the municipality.
Mustafa Bozbey, mayor of Bursa, was arrested last week on charges of corruption, while his wife, Seden Baştimur, was detained in the same investigation. Bozbey had an extramarital affair with Baştimur before both divorced their spouses and married in 2014. Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek reportedly asked Bozbey to hire Baştimur, then wife of a security guard working for Böcek, for the municipality of Bursa’s Nilüfer district, where Bozbey served as mayor before his election as mayor of the city’s metropolitan municipality. Bozbey hired Baştimur as personal aide, skipping usual procedures for municipal hires, before the two started an affair.
Rıza Akpolat, former mayor of Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district who was arrested on charges of corruption in late 2024, had his marriage collapsed when videos revealed his affair with Yeşim Ağırman, then head of the women’s branch for CHP in Istanbul. Investigations revealed that Akpolat funneled cash he had accumulated from bribes to Ağırman. The investigation also showed that the former mayor handed over the ownership of a luxury flat in the district to a brother of Ağırman, before the couple got married.
Özkan Yalım, the mayor of the western city of Uşak for CHP, who was detained on March 27 on charges of corruption, also had multiple extramarital affairs and is accused of funding them through municipal resources. Yalım was detained in a hotel room in Ankara with his 21-year-old mistress, but media reports later revealed he had three more girlfriends in extramarital affairs. One of them, Aslıhan Aksoy, was discovered to be hired by the Uşak municipality and was regularly paid wages, though she did not show up for work at any time. Yalım also gifted a residence and a car to another girlfriend, reportedly by using municipal resources.
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.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
Leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, visited the headquarters of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Monday in Ankara in a campaign for support for snap elections. The DEM had been dismissive of Özel’s bid earlier but they hosted the CHP delegation anyway.
Özel was accompanied by his three deputies at the meeting attended by the DEM Party’s co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan.
The CHP has been pushing for an early election since the arrest of its mayor in Istanbul on charges of corruption, though the government dismissed the calls for rescheduling of the 2028 general election. When another mayor of the CHP was arrested earlier this month, Özel hinted at his plans for another attempt at a snap vote, announcing that he would seek a meeting with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. He is expected to continue his meetings with party representatives later this week.
The DEM Party has so far kept itself out of a by-election debate. The party’s spokesperson, Ayşegül Doğan, said last week that it was not on their agenda, while the party’s co-chair, Tuncer Bakırhan, said they found it fair that the CHP called for a snap vote, though he underlined that they should have talked about what pushed the CHP to seek such a vote instead of the actual call.
Under the Turkish Constitution, elections are held every five years, and adjusting this schedule requires a constitutional amendment. An early election, however, can be possible if other parties agree and if Parliament undergoes a reshuffle. If the number of lawmakers falls by 5%, or 30 deputies, Parliament is obliged to call elections for those constituencies within three months. Eight seats are currently vacant in Parliament for various reasons, and media outlets reported that CHP may propose the resignation of 22 of its parliament members to widen the gap, but such resignations can only be accepted by a decision of the General Assembly. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which holds a majority in Parliament, will be decisive as well.
Özel has been vocal about his calls for an early vote as a court in Ankara handles a trial questioning the legitimacy of Özel’s leadership at Türkiye’s oldest party. Özel and his associates are accused of buying votes of delegates to oust then-Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a 2023 intraparty election. The trial was postponed to May 6 amid media reports that the verdict will likely be an “absolute nullification” of the Özel administration.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
As the impact of attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Iran continues to reverberate across the region and neighboring countries, a trilateral meeting held on April 5 between Ukraine, Syria and Türkiye has drawn attention to emerging regional alignments.
Experts say the talks, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s remarks on opening “new relations and new opportunities,” signal the potential for new forms of cooperation taking shape in the region.
Recalling that the scene of Netanyahu sharing a map at the United Nations in 2024 where Iran, Iraq and Syria marked in black and described as “cursed,” “Türkiye has taken increasingly visible and assertive steps centred on stability in the Middle East,” Merve Suna Özel Özcan, associate professor and the vice chair of the International Relations Department at Kırıkkale University, told to Daily Sabah.
“In this context, Syria has moved beyond theoretical debates to become a red line for Türkiye, while also emerging as a central hub of regional power competition,” she asserted.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Syria on Sunday for a trilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan held talks in Damascus with President al-Sharaa and President Zelenskyy, discussing bilateral issues and regional matters.
The talks focused on bilateral projects for rebuilding postwar Syria and supporting Syria’s capacity-building efforts, sources said.
Özcan pointed out that Israel’s recent policies, particularly those targeting Syria in the post-Assad period, reflect a broader expansionist and security-driven strategy that is also visible in Gaza, tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and developments in Lebanon.
She added that this approach points to an effort to fragment the region into more manageable zones of instability.
“Within this context, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visits to Syria are seen as carrying strategic weight beyond routine diplomacy, highlighting Türkiye’s ability to directly influence and balance developments on the ground.”
Following Sunday’s meeting in Damascus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a post on his X social media account saying that the talks focused on building “new relations and new opportunities,” while expanding cooperation to ensure regional security. Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including energy, infrastructure and food security, as well as efforts to address the consequences of war.
The Ukrainian leader also said the sides reviewed the ongoing negotiation process related to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the reception in Syria and noted that Ukraine was among the first countries to support a new Syrian administration following the fall of the Assad regime.
He added that Kyiv remains committed to supporting stability and development in Syria, emphasizing plans to strengthen cooperation to boost economic growth and resilience in both countries.
“We agreed to work together to provide more security and opportunities for development for our societies,” Zelenskyy also wrote on Telegram. “There is a great interest in exchanging military and security experience.”
According to Özcan, the Iran-U.S.-Israel tensions and the war between Russia and Ukraine are no longer separate crises but are increasingly converging into interconnected conflict zones since wars now are no longer isolated events; they are evolving into multilayered and interlinked systems.
“The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in the north should not be viewed as separate phenomena; rather, they are increasingly forming interconnected zones of crisis. Wars are no longer isolated events but are evolving into multilayered and interlinked conflict systems.
“Within this new form of warfare, not only military dynamics but also energy routes, trade corridors, cyberspace and space technologies must be considered together,” she noted.
“In this context, Türkiye stands out as one of the few actors pursuing proactive mediation across two distinct conflict axes, both in the Russia–Ukraine war and in tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.”
On April 4, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul to discuss bilateral ties, efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and broader regional and global developments.
During the talks, Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to supporting negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, stressing the region’s urgent need for peace and stability.
He also underscored Ankara’s strong emphasis on ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea and maintaining energy supply security, according to a statement from the presidency.
Erdoğan said Türkiye remains determined to increase trade volume with Ukraine and will continue taking steps to strengthen economic cooperation and he also welcomed Ukraine’s efforts to deepen relations with Gulf countries, the statement said.
On the other hand, commenting on Zelenskyy’s aboard a Turkish presidential aircraft while traveling to Syria’s capital, she noted, “Zelenskyy’s presence on a Turkish aircraft should be understood as both a strategic security measure and a geopolitical opening.”
Drawing attention to that the Russia-Ukraine war continues under the shadow of the Iran–US–Israel conflict, which has contributed to a degree of strategic isolation for Ukraine, “Both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, it appears that Türkiye’s mediation will once again play a decisive role in efforts to bring the Russia–Ukraine war to an end,” she argued.
As the footage showed, the Ukrainian leader flew on an aircraft from Türkiye’s presidential fleet bearing the registration TC-IST.
“The region may be entering a period of profound transformation,” she cautioned, concluding that the Middle East’s security architecture is undergoing a significant shift amid broader changes in the international order.
The Turkish army’s 120 vessels, 50 aerial vehicles and 15,000 personnel from naval, lans and air forces joined the Blue Homeland military exercise, which began on April 3. The exercise, which will conclude on April 9, is being carried out in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. The three areas are under the risk of tensions that occasionally escalate, requiring Türkiye to remain committed to steady defense spending. The Black Sea has seen an increased threat of spillover from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, from stray naval mines and drones washing ashore to attacks on commercial ships near Turkish shores. The Aegean Sea, in the meantime, remains a source of tension with Greece due to maritime jurisdiction disputes.
The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement that the exercise aimed to increase the preparedness level of the army and assessing the capacity of transfer and command in commands under the Naval Forces. The ministry said the exercise will also contribute to development of judgment, foresight and decision-making skills in multi-threat environments for personnel and elements joining the Blue Homeland, as well as trial of interoperability between commands of different forces of the army.
“Blue Homeland” is also the name of a doctrine conceived by two former Turkish naval officers. The doctrine encompasses Türkiye’s maritime jurisdictions, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in line with United Nations resolutions. These connected issues have been a source of dispute between Türkiye and Greece for decades.
Ankara and Athens seek to improve relations after years of hostilities but maritime jurisdictions remain a thorny issue. The countries that came close to an all-out war in the 1990s over the Aegean Sea remain vigilant, with Türkiye concentrating on developing a domestic defense industry. Greece relies on foreign partners to boost its defenses.
The exercise had been on a two-year hiatus before Türkiye decided to resume in January 2025.
Embracing the doctrine of being effective and powerful at sea as its predecessor the Ottomans were once, Türkiye in the past two decades has developed an independent defense industry capable of operating in open waters, thereby shifting geopolitical balances in its favor. The navy plays a critical role in ensuring the security of maritime trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, promoting regional stability. In the past two decades, Türkiye has reached a milestone by designing and producing its own warships. The TCG Heybeliada, the first indigenous corvette, was commissioned in 2011, followed by projects for indigenous frigates and destroyers. The ADVENT combat management system, developed domestically, represents a significant achievement, enhancing the capabilities of the Turkish navy. In 2024, the country commissioned its first of six planned Reis-class submarines. The project for the Piri Reis submarine, the first of its class, was launched in 2019. It has a length of 68.35 meters (224.25 feet) and a capacity of 40 personnel.
Though they bolstered their defenses, Türkiye and Greece still count on a full thaw in relations. After a long period of tensions marked by disputes over irregular migration, the Cyprus dispute, energy exploration and territorial sovereignty in the Aegean, the two countries have been taking confidence-building steps, which moved into a new chapter with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s landmark visit to Athens two years ago.
While officials on both sides have expressed commitment to maintaining the positive climate, the issues are longstanding and deep-rooted, and neither side expects the process to be without turbulence, particularly in the Aegean, where Turkish and Greek jets often scuffled until very recently.
Ankara has repeatedly warned its neighbor against entering an arms race with Türkiye, particularly on building a military presence on the disputed Aegean islands since the 1960s, in violation of postwar treaties.
Türkiye’s Defense Ministry on March 12 accused Greece of violating international treaties governing the status of several Aegean islands, warning that Athens’ recent initiatives undermine bilateral relations and contradict the legal framework established by international agreements.
Speaking at the ministry’s weekly press briefing in Ankara, Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk said Greek actions regarding the islands run counter to provisions set out in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, which require certain islands to remain demilitarized.
“The initiatives by Greece that violate the status of the islands contrary to duly concluded treaties both create legal violations and damage our neighborly and allied relations,” Aktürk said.
He noted that the Eastern Aegean islands were transferred to Greece under the Lausanne Treaty and the Paris Peace Treaty on the condition that they remain demilitarized.
According to the ministry, islands including Limnos and Karpathos fall under provisions that require them to maintain a demilitarized status.
The ministry said any actions that alter this status constitute a breach of the agreements and stressed that unilateral steps cannot legally terminate the demilitarized provisions established by international treaties.
“These fait accompli attempts do not lead to the unilateral termination of the demilitarized status,” the ministry said in a statement.
Turkish officials also accused Greece of attempting to use regional tensions to advance its own positions.
“We do not accept Greece’s initiatives that do not serve a genuine purpose and aim to turn the crises in our region into opportunities,” the ministry said, adding that Ankara has taken the necessary measures in response.
It was previously stated that Greece aims to deploy five different types of missile systems on Aegean islands and near the Turkish-Greek land border under the “Achilles’ Shield” project.
The ministry also stressed that disputes between NATO allies are particularly concerning at a time when multiple security crises continue to affect the broader region.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday will chair a Cabinet meeting.
The meeting’s main agenda will be ongoing conflicts in the region and other issues, including the terror-free Türkiye initiative for the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK.
The U.S.-Israel-Iran war is expected to dominate the meeting. The ministers will discuss Türkiye’s role as mediator in the conflict, which has lingered for more than five weeks, and the conflict’s impact on Turkish economy.
The effects of rising energy costs on the economy will also be addressed. Steps to be taken in the economy and potential measures will be discussed, a report by the Sabah newspaper said on Sunday.
Another key topic of the meeting will be the Russia-Ukraine war. Navigation safety in the Black Sea and the latest developments in the region will be examined.
Erdoğan’s meeting over the weekend with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to be discussed.
During the talks, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s continued support for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing that the region needs greater peace and stability, according to a statement on Turkish social media by the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate. He said Türkiye attaches great importance to safe navigation in the Black Sea and underscored the importance of energy supply security. Erdoğan also expressed Türkiye’s determination to boost bilateral trade with Ukraine, noting that Ankara will continue taking necessary steps toward that goal. He further voiced satisfaction with Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its relations with Gulf countries, according to the statement. The meeting followed a Friday phone call between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
In addition to developments in foreign policy, critical domestic issues are also on the Cabinet’s agenda. The latest stage of the terror-free Türkiye initiative will be assessed, and field observation reports will be reviewed. Based on positive reports from the field, the framework of planned legal regulations will be determined. Discussions will focus on which members of terrorist group PKK may benefit from these regulations, including those living abroad, those involved or not involved in criminal acts, those currently imprisoned, as well as elderly and disabled members.
The meeting is also expected to address in particular sentencing regulations and proposed amendments to the Turkish Penal Code and the Anti-Terror Law.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Syria on Sunday for a trilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan held talks in Damascus with President al-Sharaa and President Zelenskyy.
No further details of the meetings were immediately available.
Foreign Ministry sources said Fidan would discuss bilateral issues and regional matters with Syrian officials. The talks will also focus on bilateral projects for rebuilding postwar Syria and supporting Syria’s capacity-building efforts, sources said.
Another issue on the table will be the assessment of the state of the integration of the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG, in the framework of the Jan. 17 and 29 deals Damascus agreed upon with the group after a string of offensives. Security of Syria will also be discussed.
Sources said Fidan and Syrian officials will separately discuss the impact of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war on Syria, as well as the situation in Syria’s neighbor, Lebanon, which suffered from Israel’s attacks after the war broke out in February.
Earlier this month, al-Sharaa told an event at Chatham House in London that they were working to keep Syria out of the ongoing regional war. He warned that Syria could still become a target amid escalating tensions. “Could Syria be targeted? It’s possible, but we are trying not to initiate hostility with anyone, and we are trying to keep Syria away from any battlefield,” he said.
He warned that the current regional climate is driven by heightened emotions and unpredictable decision-making. “Everything is possible right now, because it is not wise judgment that is controlling matters today. The atmosphere is charged with anger, reactions and random policies,” he added.
The Syrian president noted that such dynamics are affecting multiple countries, including Gulf states that had previously remained outside the conflict but have since been targeted. He said Syria is seeking to take the safest course for its people and is carefully weighing its options to avoid being drawn into the conflict. “We are trying to choose the safest situation for our people and to measure things carefully so that we do not reach a point where we are targeted and forced to respond,” he said.
Zelenskyy was in Türkiye on Saturday, where he met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Turkish-Syrian relations, frozen during the civil war, took a new turn after forces led by al-Sharaa led a revolution in December 2024 to overthrow the oppressive regime of Bashar Assad, a close ally of Russia. Within one year, Ankara-Damascus ties gained an unprecedented momentum, with deals serving the interests of both countries.
Sources said Türkiye both helped Syria to heal the wounds of the civil war and exerted efforts for new cooperation opportunities, aiding Syria’s lasting stability and security.
Fidan was among the first Turkish officials to visit Syria after the Baathist regime collapsed. His last visit was on Dec. 22, 2025. During that visit, Fidan was accompanied by Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) director Ibrahim Kalın.
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