Politics
US to reduce military bases, change policy in Syria: Envoy
The United States will scale down its military bases in Syria while changing its policy toward the country due to previous failures, the new U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack said on Tuesday.
Barrack, who was named special envoy last month shortly after Washington unexpectedly lifted U.S. sanctions on Syria, made the comments in an interview with broadcaster NTV late on Monday.
The U.S. military has about 2,000 troops in Syria, mostly in the northeast. They are working with local forces including the PKK’s Syrian wing, the YPG, to prevent a resurgence of Daesh, which in 2014 seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria but was later pushed back.
Since opposition forces ousted Syria’s former President Bashar Assad in December, the U.S. and other countries are re-engaging with Damascus under new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Barrack raised the American flag over the ambassador’s residence in Damascus last week for the first time since 2012.
When asked how the Trump administration will shape its Syria policy and whether the U.S. is considering troop withdrawal from Syria, Barrack said: “What I can assure you is that our current Syria policy will not be close to the Syria policy of the last 100 years, because none of these have worked.”
Reducing the number of bases to one from eight was an important part of that shift, he said, according to an interview transcript.
Two security sources in bases where U.S. troops are deployed told Reuters in April that military equipment and vehicles had already moved out of eastern Deir el-Zour and were being consolidated in the province of Hasakah.
One of the sources said the consolidation plan involved pulling all U.S. troops out of Deir el-Zour province.
A U.S. State Department official said separately that the military presence would be reduced “if and when appropriate” based on conditions, adding troops are routinely calibrated based on operational needs and contingencies.
Barrack said that the YPG-dominated SDF were a U.S. ally and a “very important factor” for the U.S. Congress, and that directing them to integrate into a new Syrian government was also very important.
“Everyone needs to be reasonable in their expectations,” he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said last week that the SDF was using “stalling tactics,” despite a deal with the Syrian government to integrate into Syria’s armed forces.
The deal was signed in March by Syria’s interim president and Ferhat Abdi Şahin, code-named “Mazloum Kobani,” the ringleader of the YPG. Damascus shunned an open conflict with the YPG and sought a deal for their integration into the new Syrian army.
The YPG currently occupies one-third of Syria’s territory, including most of the country’s oil and gas fields. The YPG uses the name SDF to give itself an air of legitimacy. Türkiye, which suffered from cross-border attacks by the YPG, supported the Syrian opposition through military offensives in Syria’s north in the past decade and liberated parts of northern Syria from the YPG’s grip.
Türkiye has urged Syria’s interim administration to address the YPG’s control over large parts of northern Syria and is currently closely monitoring the integration of the SDF into the Syrian government. Ankara is a major supporter of the al-Sharaa-led administration and also backs the March deal.
The issue strains Turkish-U.S. ties as Ankara warns its NATO ally against aiding terror elements that threaten its national security, something Washington continues to do despite promising to remove the group from the Turkish border area.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that unlawful attacks on Iran have heightened regional security risks, calling for a new and stronger security architecture during talks with regional leaders at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
According to the Presidential Communications Directorate, Erdoğan made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the forum.
He emphasized that Türkiye will continue and intensify efforts to preserve the cease-fire and ensure lasting peace, while stressing the need for a comprehensive and durable regional security framework.
The leaders also discussed possible joint steps to achieve sustainable peace across the region.
On the margins of the forum, Erdoğan held a series of bilateral meetings with regional counterparts, including Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
The meetings, held in Antalya’s Belek region, focused on bilateral ties and regional developments.
Senior Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, National Intelligence Organization head Ibrahim Kalın and Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, attended the meetings.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for transforming a fragile cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran into lasting peace and warned of mounting regional risks, saying the Middle East is facing one of its most serious tests in recent history.
Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Fidan stressed the need to “put out the fire” in the region, expressing hope that the recently reached cease-fire would be fully implemented and evolve into a durable peace.
He referred to the 14-day cease-fire between the United States and Iran reached earlier this month and efforts led by Pakistan to revive stalled talks between Washington and Tehran.
Fidan warned that the world is entering an era defined by overlapping crises and uncertainty, where multiple threats reinforce one another.
He said the ongoing war and its regional spillover effects have caused serious damage to the international system, underlining that the latest escalation has once again demonstrated that war produces no winners.
Praising diplomatic efforts that helped secure the temporary cease-fire, particularly those led by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Fidan said the root causes of the conflict must not be ignored.
He described Israel’s expansionist policies as a direct threat to global stability, urging those seeking lasting peace to take action to halt further escalation.
Fidan noted that the international community has shown rare unity in efforts to de-escalate tensions, calling for this momentum to be used to strengthen dialogue and diplomacy.
He emphasized that diplomacy must remain central to resolving conflicts, describing it as the key tool to prevent further escalation, rebuild trust and preserve common ground for the future.
Fidan outlined two main pillars for shaping a more stable future. The first is reforming global governance to make international institutions more inclusive, transparent and accountable, warning that current structures are increasingly ineffective and risk deepening crises.
He also stressed the need for fairer distribution of global prosperity and cautioned against the misuse of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence as tools of dominance.
The second pillar, he said, involves taking strategic steps to ensure lasting regional peace and stability. He pointed to ongoing conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel’s expanding military actions from Gaza to Syria, Lebanon and Iran, and instability in the Horn of Africa and Sudan, as evidence of rising interconnected crises.
Fidan highlighted Türkiye’s role as a key diplomatic actor capable of engaging with all sides, emphasizing Ankara’s commitment to mediation and regional stability.
He added that a sustainable regional order requires respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, recognition of diversity as a source of strength, stronger regional security cooperation, an end to the use of non-state actors and progress toward a two-state solution in Palestine.
On the sidelines of the forum, Fidan also held separate meetings with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, brings together world leaders and senior officials from April 17 to 19 in southern Türkiye, focusing this year on the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.”
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held its 152nd Assembly on Thursday in Istanbul, at a session chaired by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş.
The situation in Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians were slaughtered by Israel since 2023 was the main theme of Kurtulmuş’s keynote speech at the General Assembly. He said hosting parliamentarians in Istanbul to deepen multilateral ties was a reflection of demonstrating humanity’s common conscience.
Referring to the event’s theme of “nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations,” Kurtulmuş said it was a comprehensive goal addressing to the needs of the age.
Kurtulmuş noted that humanity is going through an extraordinarily difficult, critical and challenging period in which escalating and expanding conflicts, deepening inequalities, displacement, waves of hunger and the erosion of trust are all intertwined. He explained that a multilateral and multipolar political architecture had long been one of the main pillars of international balance.
Stating that developments in recent years have eroded the capacity of institutions to generate will, the ability to enforce rules and the moral weight of concepts, Kurtulmuş said: “The situation we face is not one that stems merely from certain technical deficiencies or disruptions, nor can it be explained solely by such shortcomings. We are confronted with a deeper, more comprehensive, and universal problem. While the global system maintains its claim to solve problems, unfortunately it fails to demonstrate the courage to implement norms. In principle, the texts remain in place and are in force; however, in the face of the destruction suffered by millions, these principles no longer have any protective effect. Law has been transformed into an instrument of pressure that bends for the powerful while becoming rigid against the weak.”
Emphasizing that the international system is in clear collapse and that the grave situation in Gaza is just one of the clearest manifestations of this collapse, Kurtulmuş continued: “In a situation where civilians cannot be protected, the right to life cannot be guaranteed, health infrastructure has been destroyed, humanitarian aid passages are blocked, and basic living conditions have been eliminated, the failure to present an effective and binding will constitutes a serious responsibility and a serious test for all of us in terms of the international system. There is no need to mince words here. An international structure that remains silent in the face of systematic attacks against humanity is in fact losing its founding claims. Centers that claim to represent conscience are content with merely watching the suffering. The Palestinian issue has gone far beyond being the tragedy of a particular region and has become a shared test for all of humanity,” he underlined.
Kurtulmuş stated that Gaza serves as a clear laboratory demonstrating the destructive consequences of selectively applied humanitarian law. “Gaza is a grave test that questions why institutions were established, whom rules are meant to protect, and how consistently the human family can act in the face of shared values and we are all confronted with this test. Silence maintained at the cost of the lives of the oppressed can never be considered neutrality. I would like to state clearly that political bargaining can never be conducted over the right to life of civilians,” he said.
He emphasized that the parliaments had a major responsibility in the face of these developments.
“We must not lose the ability to call an oppressor an oppressor under the guise of politeness. There is a difference between speaking in a measured way and speaking ineffectively, just as there is a difference between calmness and silence. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that parliaments bear a great responsibility in this period. We will both speak clearly and never adopt an attitude that hides the truth under the name of courtesy,” he said.
Founded in 1889 by parliamentary representatives to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and dialogue, the IPU now stands out as the umbrella organization of the world’s parliaments, with 183 member countries.
Türkiye, which hosted General Assembly meetings in 1934 and 1951 and most recently 30 years ago, is set to once again demonstrate its experience and expertise in parliamentary diplomacy, as well as the importance it places on multilateral relations and international dialogue.
A highlight of the opening ceremony for the General Assembly was the arrival of the Iranian delegation with a bloodied school bag belonging to a student killed in a U.S.-Israel attack in the conflict that began on Feb. 28.
At the session of the peace and international security committee of the general assembly, lawmakers debated a resolution for the creation of post-conflict administrative mechanisms and works on ensuring fair and permanent peace by parliaments. Awni Al-Zoubi, a member of Jordan’s Parliament, told the session that a draft resolution he and fellow parliamentarians presented on the matter had references to the United Nations, noting that the parliaments had an important duty to convert political commitments to mechanisms and create follow-up, monitoring mechanisms. He said national agencies should lead post-conflict recoveries while other countries should provide support to the said agencies and ensure democratic legitimacy.
Benjamin Okezie Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, told the session that a cease-fire is often confused with the “end of a war,” but post-conflict cease-fire agreements tend to be fragile and need structured efforts and frameworks.
“Without this framework, the countries are at risk of succumbing to the cycle of violence,” Kalu warned. He said parliaments can help turn fragile agreements into binding regulations.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the international system is facing a deep legitimacy crisis, warning that diplomacy has been replaced by weapons, as he called for renewed efforts toward dialogue, justice and peace.
Addressing the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Erdoğan expressed hope that discussions and decisions made during the gathering would strengthen solidarity among nations and contribute to resolving ongoing crises, particularly the Israeli violence in Gaza.
He emphasized that the global system established after World War II is losing credibility, with its core values, rules and institutions increasingly undermined.
“The international system established by the victors 80 years ago is now facing a deep crisis of legitimacy,” he said.
Erdoğan noted that international law has lost its deterrent effect on actors committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, adding that a growing reliance on military force instead of diplomacy has created an environment where no one feels secure.
He reaffirmed that Türkiye’s foreign policy prioritizes resolving conflicts through peaceful means, stressing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the active involvement of regional actors.
Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts in regions including Gaza, Ukraine, Iran and Africa, describing them as grounded in principled and realistic approaches.
He also underlined the critical role of parliaments in representing the will of nations and contributing to global peace efforts, while criticizing the international community’s slow response to crises in the Middle East.
Erdoğan pointed to recent developments, noting that while global attention has shifted to tensions involving Iran, thousands of people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Palestine and Lebanon, with more than one million displaced in Lebanon.
Turkish authorities detained 12 suspects in a coordinated operation across nine provinces targeting a cybercrime network accused of infiltrating public institutions’ digital systems and exploiting citizens’ personal data, officials said.
The operation, led by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), was carried out in cooperation with the Cyber Security Directorate, the Gendarmerie General Command and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), following a joint investigation into the group’s activities.
Raids were conducted early in the morning in Istanbul, Konya, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Manisa, Mardin, Batman, Çanakkale and Hakkari, centered on the capital Ankara, where prosecutors are overseeing the case. Authorities said the suspects were apprehended in simultaneous operations targeting what they described as an organized cybercrime structure.
According to security sources, the network had been under surveillance by MIT as part of an intelligence-led probe into attempts to gain unauthorized access to government information systems.
Investigators found that the group used malicious software to target login credentials of public sector employees, enabling them to infiltrate systems and carry out transactions through compromised accounts.
The stolen data was allegedly distributed through a multilayered network and sold for profit under a “franchise-like” model to third parties. Officials said the information was marketed to various criminal actors, including fraud networks and, in some cases, groups linked to terrorism-related activities.
During the operation, authorities seized numerous domestic and foreign-based servers, data storage systems and digital materials believed to be connected to the network. Forensic examinations by the Cyber Security Directorate revealed that the suspects actively operated systems allowing unauthorized queries of personal data.
Investigators also identified multiple cryptocurrency wallets and digital financial assets linked to the group, which are now under examination as part of the financial dimension of the probe.
One key suspect, accused of building and managing the network’s technical infrastructure and operating under a code name to conceal his identity, was detained in the southeastern province of Mardin. Authorities allege he played a central role in expanding the network by facilitating data-sharing with various criminal entities.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing and could expand as new evidence emerges, emphasizing that efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks will continue.
In 2025, MIT intensified efforts against cybercrime and illegal access to personal data. In coordination with the Gendarmerie General Command, the National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM) and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), multiple operations were carried out across several provinces.
Throughout the year, more than 1,200 fraudulent websites linked to cyber fraud schemes were shut down.
Qatar’s Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim on Thursday highlighted the growing diplomatic influence of Türkiye and Qatar, saying the two countries play a key role in mediating regional conflicts and supporting humanitarian efforts, particularly in Gaza.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul, al-Ghanim described the forum as a high-profile platform for international cooperation. He emphasized that Ankara and Doha maintain “deep-rooted and strategic” ties, marked by close coordination on political and humanitarian issues.
“Türkiye and Qatar play a very important role in resolving disputes and conflicts,” al-Ghanim said, noting their joint mediation efforts in regional crises and their ability to maintain dialogue between opposing sides.
He also underscored Qatar’s ongoing support for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions have sharply deteriorated amid the continuing conflict. Doha has been a central mediator in cease-fire negotiations and hostage exchanges, working alongside partners including Egypt and the United States, according to reports from international agencies.
Türkiye, for its part, has been one of the most vocal advocates for a cease-fire and increased humanitarian access. Ankara has delivered aid shipments, hosted diplomatic talks and pushed for international recognition of Palestinian statehood. The Turkish Parliament also launched initiatives such as a parliamentary group focused on Palestine and Jerusalem.
Al-Ghanim said the Qatari Shura Council is coordinating closely with Turkish lawmakers to align parliamentary efforts aimed at easing Palestinian suffering and mobilizing global support.
Beyond Gaza, Türkiye and Qatar have expanded cooperation across defense, trade and diplomacy over the past decade. The two countries have also worked in tandem on regional issues, including conflicts involving Iran and broader Middle East security challenges, often positioning themselves as key intermediaries.
Their partnership, al-Ghanim said, continues to contribute to stability through dialogue and coordinated action.
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‘Türkiye is the Key to Peace’ post from the Directorate of Communications: “A strong stance is taken under the leadership of President Erdoğan”
Erdoğan urges new regional security framework amid rising tensions
“Türkiye is the Key to Peace” sharing from cabinet members! They emphasized President Erdoğan’s leadership
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