Politics
Erdoğan ‘cautiously optimistic’ on preventing war’s expansion
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) during a meeting on Wednesday that Türkiye was cautiously optimistic on the future of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, the Sabah newspaper reported.
The president chaired the Central Executive Committee meeting of the AK Party after a speech at the party’s parliamentary group meeting, where he highlighted their bid to “keep Türkiye out of fire.”
Emphasizing the escalating tension along the U.S.-Israel-Iran line, Erdoğan told the meeting that Türkiye is closely monitoring the process and is intensively continuing its diplomatic initiatives.
“We are cautiously optimistic. Hopefully, this process will come to an end. We are using all our diplomatic power to prevent it from spreading and to ensure it ends as soon as possible,” he said.
Stressing that Türkiye will maintain its peace- and stability-oriented approach, Erdoğan underlined the sensitivity of developments in the region.
At the meeting, Erdoğan also issued important warnings to members of the board regarding the war in the region, noting that an appropriate tone should be used.
Ankara has so far maintained a neutral stance in the war and has joined efforts to find a diplomatic solution. It has also shot down four missiles fired from Iran since last month. Tehran has denied targeting Türkiye deliberately and warned of false flag operations.
“Our priority is that our country should come out of this stormy period without any incident. We are determined to keep Türkiye out of the fire. We are not falling for the traps of the opposition and manage this process in a cautious, balanced and rational manner,” he told the parliamentary group meeting of his party on Wednesday.
The opposition adopted a more hawkish tone in the early days of the war and mostly called for siding with Iran while sending mixed signals about the “regime change” in Iran. The government has avoided a firebrand or one-sided approach so far, despite Türkiye seeing four missiles entering its airspace since the war began on Feb. 28. Ankara has never been harsh in its discourse toward Iran, and the missiles were intercepted by NATO’s defense systems. Instead, Türkiye has been keen on playing the role of mediator as it did in the other conflicts in the region and beyond.
Erdoğan reminded that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined a quadrilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan to discuss steps to stop the war. He said Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın were also exerting efforts to that extent.
A Turkish court has sentenced eight defendants to a combined 48 years in prison for espionage activities conducted on behalf of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, with a former police officer receiving the longest term.
The Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court on Friday handed Hamza Turhan Ayberk a 20-year prison sentence for “serial political or military espionage,” while seven other defendants received four years and two months each for obtaining state security-related information.
The other convicted suspects, Hakan Kabaca, Funda Kadayıfçıoğlu, Ercan Kama, Ömer Burak Gezer, Ismail Kaya, Mehmet Yetimova and Özkan Şahin, all detained in late 2024, were found guilty of acting jointly to gather and transfer sensitive information.
The court ruled that Ayberk will remain in custody, while Kabaca was released under judicial supervision. The remaining defendants had been tried without detention.
According to the indictment, Ayberk, a former police officer, established contact with Mossad operatives code-named “Victoria” and “Marc” and carried out assignments involving surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Ayberk met “Victoria” in Belgrade in 2019, a meeting he acknowledged in his statement, after which he was tasked with monitoring individuals and investigating their financial assets. Prosecutors said these assignments went beyond routine inquiries and constituted espionage activities.
He later coordinated with other defendants, assigning tasks such as tracking individuals in hotels, conducting asset investigations and compiling personal data. The information was then transmitted to Mossad operatives through digital platforms, including Skype and email.
In one operation detailed in the indictment, Ayberk and several co-defendants followed individuals arriving in Türkiye and gathered intelligence on their movements. Authorities said such activities were carried out in coordination and over an extended period.
Prosecutors said Ayberk received payments through bank transfers and cryptocurrency, and distributed money to some of the other defendants in exchange for their assistance.
The indictment also cited communication records and technical data showing repeated contact among the suspects. Historical telephone signal records indicated overlapping locations and sustained interaction between Ayberk and other defendants, supporting claims of an organized network.
Hakan Kabaca was accused of supplying sensitive personal data, including travel records, accommodation details and passport information, in return for payment. Authorities said he maintained frequent contact with Ayberk and other suspects.
Prosecutors argued that the group collected and shared confidential information on individuals in Türkiye who were considered targets of Israeli intelligence, including some who had sought refuge in the country.
The indictment noted that such information is protected under international agreements and warned that its exposure could enable further actions such as surveillance, abduction or assassination attempts.
Financial investigations conducted by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) found that the defendants obtained material benefits from their activities.
The prosecution had sought prison sentences ranging from 18 years and nine months to 36 years and nine months for espionage-related charges, arguing that the suspects acted in coordination and committed the offenses multiple times.
During the hearings, defendants denied the accusations and presented their defenses, while the court evaluated digital evidence, financial records and witness statements before delivering its verdict.
As the Palestinian-Israeli conflict rages on, Türkiye has uncovered several networks operated by Mossad in the country, resulting in dozens of arrests and ongoing prosecutions since 2022 alone.
The first major crackdown came in late 2022, when authorities detained 68 suspects in Istanbul and other provinces. In 2023, coordinated raids, including operations in Istanbul and Izmir, led to the arrest of at least 60 additional individuals. In 2024, authorities opened four separate espionage cases, encompassing over 100 suspects who were either detained, arrested, or under investigation.
Many suspects were accused of collecting sensitive personal data and conducting surveillance on foreign nationals residing in Türkiye, particularly Palestinians or those associated with the Palestinian group Hamas. Mossad is said to have also recruited Palestinians and Syrian nationals in Türkiye as part of an operation against foreigners living in Türkiye.
After a brief normalization period in 20222, Türkiye-Israel ties deteriorated again after Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 73,000 Palestinians. Ankara is one of the strongest critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
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.
Turkish security forces carried out 1,895 operations against terrorist groups between Jan. 1 and March 30, detaining 2,778 suspects and arresting 707 of them, according to data compiled from the Interior Ministry.
According to an Anadolu Agency (AA) report, the figures showed that security operations continued at a high pace during the first quarter of 2026, targeting militant groups, organized crime networks and drug traffickers across the country.
Of the anti-terror operations, 390 targeted the outlawed PKK terrorist group and resulted in the destruction of six shelters and hideouts used by the group, the report said.
Turkish authorities also said 61 militants surrendered during the three-month period through what officials described as persuasion efforts. That brought the number of militants who have surrendered through the same method since May 12, 2025, to 146.
The report added that 73 members of terrorist groups had surrendered to security forces as a result of a long-running protest launched by the so-called Diyarbakir mothers, a group of families who have staged a sit-in since Sept. 3, 2019, demanding the return of children they say were recruited by the PKK.
From Jan. 1 to March 30, authorities also carried out 1,505 operations against the Gülenist terror group (FETÖ) as well as against other groups, including the DHKP/C, MLKP and what officials described as religiously motivated terrorist groups.
In 697 operations against FETÖ, 1,399 suspects were detained, with 395 arrested and 316 released under judicial control measures, the report said.
Another 597 operations targeting religiously motivated groups led to the detention of 1,016 suspects, 210 of whom were arrested. In 211 operations against the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C), the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) and other leftist groups, 363 suspects were detained and 102 arrested.
Authorities also conducted 581 operations against organized crime groups, taking action against 215 criminal organizations.
In addition, police carried out 13,115 anti-narcotics operations, seizing 6.5 tons of skunk cannabis, 4 tons of synthetic drugs, 1.7 tons of marijuana, 772 kilograms of cocaine, 441 kilograms of bonzai, 309 kilograms of heroin, 12 kilograms of opium gum and nearly 40 million drug pills.
Ümit Özdağ, leader of the far-right Victory Party (ZP), courted the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on Thursday, suggesting an alliance.
At a news conference in Ankara, Özdağ said it was understood that CHP leader Özgür Özel would have his party’s lawmakers resign in a bid to launch a process for a by-election (with two years to the next election). “The by-election is not a solution in itself, and the resignations would be subject to the approval of the ruling bloc. So, we call on the CHP and other parties to come together for a national alliance. We call on Mr. Özel and all other Atatürkists, patriots and nationalists to come together under Atatürk,” he said, referring to Türkiye’s first president and CHP’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Özdağ also called on the CHP not to support the terror-free Türkiye initiative for the disarmament of the PKK. Özdağ and like-minded ultranationalists claim the initiative is “betrayal.”
“The CHP only gives legitimacy to the government by remaining at that table,” he said, referring to the parliamentary committee formed by political parties for guiding legislative steps for the initiative.
The ZP leader, who rode a wave of popularity with his anti-migrant rhetoric during the Syrian civil war, which pushed millions of refugees into Türkiye, briefly supported a six-party alliance led by the CHP during the 2023 elections before reverting to his opposition to the CHP and others in the alliance, including his former party, the Good Party (IP). The election ended in a runoff between then CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who eventually won another term. Özdağ supported Kılıçdaroğlu in the second round after the ZP’s alliance collapsed when their candidate stepped down following the first round. At one point, Özdağ later admitted that he asked for the post of interior minister in exchange for supporting Erdoğan in the election, but Erdoğan rejected the proposal.
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. He told a news conference in Ankara that he would seek a meeting with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş in the coming days. “The speaker should declare his stance on an early election. We will make a significant move soon for an early election,” he sufficed to say.
Media outlets reported that the CHP would initially seek a by-election in Parliament. The Constitution allows a legislative by-election after 30 months have passed since the last general election and one year before the scheduled date of the next election. If vacant parliamentary seats are 30 or more, Parliament is mandated to declare a by-election. Unconfirmed reports say eight seats are already vacant, and if 22 CHP lawmakers resign, Parliament may decide on a by-election. However, the resignations will only be valid if Parliament’s General Assembly approves, where the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) retains a majority. Özel will likely seek to persuade Kurtulmuş to approve the resignations, media reports say. The government has repeatedly rejected calls for an early election, although the AK Party signalled that the 2028 election may be rescheduled, but only to the last months of 2027.
Türkiye’s Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on Thursday strongly condemned a stone- and explosive-laden attack by a Greek Cypriot terrorist group linked to EOKA targeting civilians in the Yiğitler Burcu area of the capital Lefkoşa in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), warning it threatens regional stability and humanitarian values.
In a statement, Duran denounced the assault as a direct attack on civilians and a serious violation of international law, stressing that such acts undermine peace and security on the island.
The statement emphasized that identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators is essential to preventing further escalation and ensuring lasting stability on the island. He said concrete measures must be taken to avoid similar incidents in the future, adding that the developments will be closely monitored in all aspects.
Reaffirming its unwavering support for the TRNC, Türkiye underscored its commitment to safeguarding the security, peace and rights of Turkish Cypriots under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Supporters of the EOKA terrorist organization carried out an attack on Wednesday from the buffer zone in Lefkoşa, targeting civilians on the TRNC side.
Greek Cypriot groups gathered in southern Lefkoşa to mark the April 1 founding anniversary of EOKA and threw stones, sticks, and improvised explosives at civilians sitting in a park located within TRNC territory, according to authorities.
The attack took place around noon, with civilians in the area coming under assault from across the buffer zone.
Turkish soldiers deployed nearby responded to the incident, while TRNC police moved in to secure the area. Following the intervention, the attackers, including some masked individuals, retreated from the borderline and fled.
In the aftermath, the TRNC Presidency initiated demarches with the U.N. and the Greek Cypriot Administration. TRNC President Tufan Erhürman also condemned the attack.
EOKA was founded in the mid-1950s by Greek Cypriot-origin Greek officer Georgios Grivas, aiming to end Cyprus’s status as a “British crown colony” and unite the island with Greece through armed operations.
Following the end of British rule and the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, the group carried out attacks targeting Turkish Cypriots and also killed Greek Cypriots who opposed its ideology.
Türkiye has frozen the assets of three individuals linked to the terrorist groups Daesh and al-Qaida as it cracks down on terrorism financing.
In a decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ugandan national Hamidah Nabagala, Iraqi national Sami Jasim Muhammad Jaata al-Jaburi and Abd El Hamid Salim Ibrahim Brukan al-Khatouni were added to the “Individuals Linked to Daesh and al-Qaida” section of the 2013 Council of Ministers decision of the U.N. Security Council.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, authorities carried out a coordinated anti-Daesh operation across three provinces, centering on western Izmir. Nine wanted suspects were all detained in simultaneous raids in Izmir, Istanbul, and Konya. All are accused of violating the Law on the Prevention of Financing Terrorism by allegedly providing financial support to Daesh.
Officials said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Daesh financing networks in Türkiye and prevent the organization from carrying out attacks.
Türkiye has intensified counterterrorism efforts in recent years, targeting Daesh cells and financing networks amid broader regional security concerns.
Daesh remains the second biggest threat of terrorism for Türkiye, which faces security risks from multiple terrorist groups and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013.
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.
The conflict involving Iran, Israel and the U.S. threatens peace and stability across a wide region, including the geography of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said Thursday, warning that continued attacks on critical infrastructure and energy facilities could trigger irreversible consequences for the regional and global economy.
Yılmaz made the remarks in Baku, where he attended a meeting of prime ministers and vice presidents of member states of the OTS, during an official visit to Azerbaijan.
He said crises in the global system remain unresolved because of what he described as dysfunction and weakness in international mechanisms. He accused Israel of pursuing a strategy of gradually destabilizing the region through attacks first targeting Gaza, then Yemen and Lebanon, and most recently Iran.
“The conflict between Iran, Israel and the U.S. threatens the peace and stability of a broad region, including the geography of the Turkic states,” Yılmaz said.
He added that the ongoing war posed vital risks to energy routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz, as well as to global economic stability, with negative effects already being felt worldwide.
Yılmaz said any targeting of critical infrastructure and energy facilities would endanger both the region and the global economy. He also said Türkiye considered it unacceptable for regional countries to be targeted by Iran for any reason, renewing Ankara’s call for restraint by all sides.
“Since the beginning of the crisis, Türkiye has been trying to create ground for dialogue and has been conducting intense diplomatic efforts,” he said.
“Our expectation is that the clashes will end as soon as possible and that there will be a return to diplomacy.”
Yılmaz also said the ongoing war in the Gulf should not overshadow Israel’s continuing military actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon. He called on the Organization of Turkic States to intensify efforts in support of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to help secure the rights of the Palestinian people.
He said the group could also develop joint reconstruction projects for Gaza as a concrete expression of solidarity with Palestinians.
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Yılmaz said Türkiye wanted the conflict, now in its fifth year, to end as soon as possible and would continue contributing to efforts to secure a just and lasting peace based on international law.
He also welcomed what he called positive steps toward a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, saying a peace agreement between the two countries would strengthen stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus and boost interaction across the Turkic world.
Regional peace and stability in Turkic states, he said, are essential not only for prosperity but also for uninterrupted global trade and energy security.
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.
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