Politics
Turkish intelligence nabs top Daesh operative
Security sources said on Wednesday that the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) captured Daesh operative Ahmet Kazancı “in the border area.”
Kazancı was part of the Daesh affiliate ISKP, or Islamic State-Khorasan Province, whose activities concentrate on South and Central Asia. He is also known under the aliases “Abu Ubeyde” and “Abu Ibrahim.” Sources said he succeeded Özgür Altun, another Turkish national also known as Abu Yasir Al Turki, who was in charge of Daesh’s “media wing” for Türkiye, a propaganda branch for the terrorist group. He was working under Altun and replaced him when Altun was captured.
MIT has cooperated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to capture Altun, one of the most wanted terrorists within an international network of Daesh. Altun, who was nabbed in June 2025 on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was once promoted in Daesh-linked publications as the group’s “media spokesperson.”
Sources stated that Kazancı traveled from Türkiye to Afghanistan and Pakistan and stayed in Daesh camps there. He was active in arranging the transportation of Daesh members from Türkiye to the region, assisting Altun. He survived air strikes in Pakistan against Daesh. Sources said he was planning to infiltrate into Türkiye, before the Turkish intelligence discovered his plan and captured him in an unspecified border area. During questioning, Kazancı admitted his association with Altun, described the military and ideological training he received within the group and acknowledged carrying out media and propaganda activities for the group, according to the sources. Security sources said the operation disrupted Daesh plans targeting Türkiye and exposed networks used to transfer recruits to the terrorist group.
Daesh remains a threat to Türkiye, which lost dozens of citizens in attacks by the group that thrived in its southern neighbors, Iraq and Syria.
Since the 2019 collapse of the self-proclaimed “caliphate,” some suspected Daesh members have settled in Türkiye, operating the so-called Khorasan Province (Daesh-K) network, which looks for “new methods” and recruits more foreign nationals for its activities after constant counterterrorism operations became a “challenge,” according to Turkish security sources.
MIT thwarted the terrorist group’s efforts for recruitment, obtaining funds and logistics support after its latest operation in the aftermath of a church shooting in Istanbul in January 2024.
Türkiye was one of the first countries to declare Daesh a terrorist group in 2013 and carried out a steady stream of operations to thwart the group, rounding up hundreds of suspects over the past few years. Operations prevented plots by Daesh to attack places of worship in Türkiye. Terrorists from Daesh and other groups, such as the PKK and its Syrian wing, the YPG, rely on a network of members and supporters in Türkiye. Turkish authorities have ordered the freezing of millions of lira worth of assets since 2013 to crack down on terrorism financiers in line with United Nations sanctions.
A leading organizer of the Global Sumud Flotilla praised Türkiye’s role in international solidarity efforts for Palestinians, saying Turkish participants and supporters have been central to sustaining the movement aimed at challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza and raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories.
J. Zacharias Crist, a boat organizer and activist with the Global Sumud Flotilla, said he witnessed firsthand the significant contribution of Turkish citizens and Muslim communities to the initiative.
“I saw personally that Muslims, and especially Turks because we departed from Türkiye, were the backbone of this movement,” Crist told Anadolu Agency (AA) on the sidelines of an international youth summit in Istanbul. “Without them, it would have been much more difficult for the movement to begin and to continue after the intervention.”
Crist spoke during the “Cut to the Chase: Truth Beyond Borders” international youth summit, organized by Marmara Anatolian Imam Hatip High School under the hosting of Boğazici University.
The activist, who converted to Islam nearly two decades ago and later settled in Türkiye, said his participation in the flotilla deepened his understanding of the challenges faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation and blockade.
Crist said he was detained after taking part in a recent flotilla mission and described what he characterized as harsh treatment by Israeli forces during his custody.
“I experienced being kept in stress positions for hours, being restrained and subjected to violence,” he said.
Crist said one of the most striking aspects of the experience was that activists from different nationalities were treated similarly during the interception.
“What I noticed when we traveled to occupied Palestine with the Global Sumud Flotilla was that the occupation forces did not distinguish between an American passport, a European passport, a Turkish passport or an Indonesian passport,” he said. “In their eyes, we were all Palestinians.”
Crist, who holds both Turkish and American citizenship, argued that international activists benefit from diplomatic protections that many Palestinians lack.
Reflecting on the broader impact of activism, Crist argued that grassroots campaigns can influence realities on the ground but acknowledged that civil society efforts alone are insufficient.
“Activism changes realities on the ground,” he said. “But governments also need to take greater responsibility.”
He described the Sumud movement as a nonviolent civilian initiative that seeks to draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza while encouraging broader political action from states and international organizations.
Crist also stressed the importance of preserving Palestinian cultural identity and historical narratives, arguing that storytelling remains a crucial aspect of advocacy.
One dimension of the conflict, he said, involves what he described as attempts to erase Palestinian cultural heritage and identity. Protecting and amplifying Palestinian voices, he added, should be treated as a central component of international solidarity efforts.
As both a Turkish and American citizen, Crist said he has observed differences in public mobilization between Türkiye and many Western countries.
“I have seen firsthand how Türkiye is able to mobilize people in ways that many Western countries cannot,” he said.
While acknowledging growing support for Palestinians across Europe and North America, Crist argued that the role of Türkiye and Muslim communities is often underestimated internationally.
He recalled a conversation with an Italian journalist during the flotilla mission who told him that the movement would not have advanced without Turkish participation.
“We will continue doing whatever is necessary for a free Palestine,” he underlined. “I would be happy to take part in the next flotilla or any future mission.”
Crist also encouraged young people to become involved in humanitarian and advocacy initiatives, saying youth participation remains essential to sustaining global solidarity movements.
“Young people have both the energy and the sense of purpose needed,” he said. “I invite them to be part of this movement.”
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France on Tuesday that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa “did a good job” in Syria. “They brought the country back together,” Trump said as he was commenting on the U.S.-Iran deal, Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and how Syria could handle Hezbollah instead of Israel.
Since he took office, Trump has repeatedly boasted about good relations with Erdoğan. He is expected to meet Erdoğan at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
Türkiye is a major supporter of the Ahmed al-Sharaa administration, which took power in its southern neighbor after the ouster of the Baathist regime. Al-Sharaa has been invited to White House according to unconfirmed reports while he was also invited to the G7 summit.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been invited to White House, but the visit will not happen at this time, a Syrian official told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Thursday, when asked about the possible reported visit this weekend. Sharaa has also been invited to the G7 summit in France and the NATO summit in Ankara, said the official. It is not clear whether he will attend the G7, but a possible meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara is being considered, the official added. Sharaa visited the White House last November in the first by a Syrian head of state since the country’s independence in 1946. He addressed the UN General Assembly in New York in September, marking his first major appearance on the world stage since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Trump also met Sharaa in Riyadh in May 2025, shortly before Washington lifted sweeping sanctions on Syria.
Türkiye’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has secured a legal victory in the U.S. in a debt recovery case involving a school alleged to have links to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), according to a statement released by the institution on Tuesday.
The TMSF said the bankruptcy administration of Bank Asya, which is managed by the fund, prevailed in a lawsuit filed before the Kings County Supreme Court in New York seeking repayment of a loan extended to Brooklyn Amity School.
The court ruled that the school must repay the outstanding debt, along with accrued interest, related to a $15.5 million (TL 717.64 million) loan package provided by Bank Asya in 2011 for the purchase and renovation of school property.
According to the TMSF, the financing consisted of five separate loans that were granted with unusually favorable terms, including a 19-year maturity period and a four-year grace period before repayments were due.
The fund said court records showed that the loans were issued following a recommendation by Ali Akbulut, a former member of Bank Asya’s board of auditors and one of its major shareholders.
After the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, the school reportedly stopped making loan payments. During proceedings in the U.S., the defendants argued that Bank Asya’s bankruptcy resulted from political circumstances in Türkiye and therefore eliminated their repayment obligations.
However, in its June 1, 2026 ruling, the New York court rejected those claims and ordered repayment of the debt with interest.
The TMSF also noted that reports prepared by Türkiye’s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) found that the loans had been extended without sufficient financial due diligence and under highly favorable conditions.
The decision is seen as a significant legal victory for the TMSF in its long-running efforts to recover assets and outstanding debts linked to Bank Asya following the bank’s collapse.
FETÖ is also known for its global network of schools and associations it founded while it disguised itself as an international nonprofit group with religious undertones long before the coup attempt.
Italy will deploy a SAMP-T air defense system to Türkiye’s Konya province as part of NATO’s standing defense plans aimed at strengthening the alliance’s air defense capabilities, the country’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday.
In a statement, the ministry said the Italian system will be stationed at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya.
“Within the scope of NATO’s Standing Defense Plan, one Italian SAMP-T Air Defense System will be deployed to the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya in order to strengthen the alliance’s air defense,” the ministry said.
The deployment is intended to reinforce allied solidarity and enhance collective security measures in the region, according to the statement.
The SAMP-T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre) is a next-generation medium- and long-range air and missile defense system jointly developed by Italy and France. It is designed to counter a broad range of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and tactical ballistic missiles.
The system employs advanced Aster 15 and Aster 30 interceptor missiles and provides 360-degree air defense coverage. Considered a cornerstone of Italy’s air defense network, the SAMP-T is mounted on highly mobile wheeled platforms, allowing for rapid deployment and operational readiness.
Equipped with multifunction radar systems such as the Arabel radar or the newer Kronos radar, the system can simultaneously track and engage multiple targets. It is also designed to maintain high effectiveness in electronic warfare environments while protecting military units and critical infrastructure from air and missile threats.
Türkiye is preparing to host a NATO summit, 22 years after the bloc’s landmark summit in Istanbul. Alliance leaders are set to meet in Ankara to focus on deterrence, defense capabilities and burden-sharing as the alliance adapts to new geopolitical realities.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held phone calls with Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday.
Sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the talks focused on negotiations to complement a lasting peace between Iran and the United States.
Along with Egypt and others, Türkiye is among the countries that strived to bring the sides to the negotiation table. Their efforts contributed to Pakistan’s diplomatic steps to ensure an end to the conflict that began in February.
Pakistan has been mediating between the two sides since securing a cease-fire on April 8, weeks after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
Islamabad in April hosted the highest-level talks between the U.S. and Iran since the two severed diplomatic ties in 1979, represented by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Qalibaf.
Leaders of Australia, Türkiye, Qatar, Japan, Kuwait, Italy, the Netherlands and the U.K. appreciated Pakistan’s and other countries’ roles in reaching the landmark agreement.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan thanked Pakistan for “its exceptional mediation efforts” and appreciated “the support provided to diplomatic initiatives by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.”
Türkiye “will continue to support all efforts aimed at establishing peace, stability and tranquility in our region and contribute to lasting solutions based on diplomacy and international law,” he said in a social media post.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump and the mediators from Pakistan, Qatar and elsewhere “who have contributed to this breakthrough.”
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in a statement, expressed gratitude to Pakistan and Qatar for their mediation efforts.
China also backed the role of Islamabad and commended Pakistan for its mediation, which brought the two parties to agree to a peace deal that will be signed in Switzerland on Friday.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also thanked Pakistan and other parties that “contributed to creating the conditions conducive to reaching this understanding.”
“We extend our thanks to our brothers in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as to all regional and international parties that contributed to creating the conditions conducive to reaching this understanding,” he said in a statement.
Authorities launched a second wave of a bribery investigation targeting the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)-run Seferihisar Municipality in western Izmir province on Wednesday, detaining six suspects, including Deputy Mayor Ibrahim Gökhan Pehlivan, prosecutors said.
The operation was carried out under the coordination of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of an ongoing probe into alleged bribery and corruption linked to construction and zoning procedures within the municipality.
According to investigators, evidence gathered during earlier raids conducted between May 18 and May 20 pointed to irregular financial benefits allegedly obtained in exchange for facilitating construction and development-related transactions. Those operations resulted in the arrest of several individuals, including municipal purchasing coordinator Oktay Kalkan, local journalist Evrim Ataman and municipal council member and survey engineer Barış Sakcı. One municipal employee was later released by prosecutors.
Authorities said the latest phase of the investigation uncovered additional evidence suggesting that municipal officials and private-sector representatives established improper financial relationships during construction and zoning processes. Prosecutors estimate that approximately TL 6 million (about $130,000) in alleged bribes was exchanged through cash payments and bank transfers.
In coordinated raids carried out in Izmir and one other province, police detained six suspects, including Pehlivan, construction company owners Sönmez Budak and Rıdvan Korkmaz Budak, business owners Salih Yurduseven and Rıdvan Öğmen, and Özlem Akyılmaz, an adviser to main opposition CHP lawmaker Veli Ağbaba.
Investigators also seized digital devices and documents believed to be relevant to the case.
A report prepared by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reportedly found that Akyılmaz transferred TL 500,000 that investigators suspect may have been linked to bribery payments to Ağbaba.
The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors said further legal action could follow as authorities continue examining financial records and seized materials.
Minister Göktaş: We have identified 30 thousand 296 vulnerable households so far.
Global Sumud Flotilla organizer says Turks are backbone of mission
Praise for Türkiye from the Japanese minister: The attention-grabbing emphasis on ‘National defense industry’!
Minister Göktaş: We have identified 30 thousand 296 vulnerable households so far.
Global Sumud Flotilla organizer says Turks are backbone of mission
Praise for Türkiye from the Japanese minister: The attention-grabbing emphasis on ‘National defense industry’!
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