Politics
FM Fidan welcomes YPG dissolution claim, urges proof on ground
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday cautiously welcomed an announcement that the terrorist PKK/YPG’s self-proclaimed autonomous administration and its affiliated military and civilian structures had been dissolved, saying Türkiye would closely examine whether the declaration is being implemented on the ground.
“Our job is to act professionally and verify its implications on the ground. If it is as stated, then of course this is a welcome development,” Fidan told reporters during a visit to the eastern province of Elazığ on Wednesday.
He said such a move would complement Türkiye’s objectives in Syria and could help strengthen ties between the country’s Kurdish and Arab communities while contributing to an environment in which all Syrians can look to the future with greater confidence.
Fidan stressed that Ankara supports protecting the identity of Syria’s Kurdish population while rejecting any steps that could undermine the country’s national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity.
“We underline the importance of preserving Kurdish identity and avoiding any denial of that identity, while at the same time ensuring that Syria’s national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity are not compromised,” he said, adding that Türkiye wants to see those principles reflected in practice.
Fidan said Ankara had long viewed the PKK/YPG’s presence in the region as a threat not only to Syria but also to Türkiye.
He nevertheless voiced hope that the emerging process would allow outstanding disputes to be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means.
“Hopefully, in this new process, we will resolve all these problems through mutual understanding and dialogue. We will resolve them peacefully,” he said.
Referring again to the announcement from Damascus, Fidan said its wording was positive but stressed that implementation would ultimately determine its significance.
“The statement made in Damascus is positive in terms of its text, but if it is also implemented in practice as stated, then it is an extremely positive development,” he said.
Fidan also highlighted the link between security and economic development after traveling by road through several provinces and districts in eastern and southeastern Türkiye over the past two days.
He said the region had enormous potential and that development accelerates when terrorism and armed conflict no longer dominate daily life.
Türkiye’s broader vision, he added, prioritizes peace, stability, development and prosperity not only at home but also in Syria, Iraq and the wider region.
During his remarks in Elazığ, Fidan also reflected on the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt), which he commemorated in Ahlat alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
He emphasized the centuries-old coexistence of Turks, Kurds, Arabs and other communities in Anatolia, arguing that their shared history remains particularly significant amid growing international competition and geopolitical tensions.
The YPG was established in 2015 with U.S. backing as the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist group. Washington partnered with the group in its campaign against Daesh despite longstanding objections from NATO ally Türkiye over its ties to the PKK.
The PKK, which has waged a decades-long campaign against Türkiye, is designated a terrorist group by Türkiye, the U.S. and the European Union.
The group became Washington’s principal partner on the ground against Daesh and eventually gained control of large parts of northern and northeastern Syria, including areas containing much of the country’s oil resources.
The Syrian administration and the YPG terror group reached a new agreement Jan. 29 that provided for a cease-fire and the group’s gradual integration into state institutions.
Turkish prosecutors on Wednesday expanded an investigation into the 2016 death of former Transport Minister Arif Ahmet Denizolgun after a new forensic expert report classified the case as a “suspicious death” and said homicide could not be scientifically ruled out, according to judicial sources.
The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is now investigating Alihan Kuriş and other suspects initially on suspicion of homicide, after a forensic expert reviewed video footage and photographs from Denizolgun’s autopsy, the sources said.
Denizolgun’s death had been officially attributed to natural causes linked to a brain hemorrhage following an autopsy in 2016. The new expert report, dated Aug. 25, questioned whether there was sufficient objective medical evidence to reach that conclusion.
The report identified four separate areas of bruising extending from beneath the right breast toward the center of Denizolgun’s chest. Bleeding was also observed in tissue beneath the bruises, which the expert assessed as indicating that the injuries occurred before death.
According to the report, the location and dimensions of the bruises could be consistent with pressure being applied to Denizolgun’s chest while his mouth and nose were covered, potentially causing suffocation.
The expert did not conclude that this was the definitive cause or mechanism of death. Instead, the report said the possibility that Denizolgun was deliberately killed through such a method could not be scientifically and objectively excluded based on the available evidence.
2016 autopsy report
Prosecutors have also opened an investigation into doctors who signed the Oct. 17, 2016, report by the Council of Forensic Medicine’s Morgue Specialization Department that classified Denizolgun’s death as natural and caused by a brain hemorrhage.
The new expert assessment said the original examination contained a forensic medical deficiency and found insufficient objective evidence to establish that the brain hemorrhage developed independently of chemical substances detected in Denizolgun’s body.
Toxicological examinations conducted during the original autopsy detected heavy metals including barium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and nickel in tissue and decomposition fluids, according to the expert report.
However, the concentrations of the substances were not recorded, preventing experts from determining whether the levels were within expected ranges or whether they could have contributed to Denizolgun’s death or brain hemorrhage.
The investigation has also focused on the handling of the original autopsy video.
Prosecutors requested the recording on Feb. 24, June 1 and July 14 this year but were essentially told that no such footage existed, judicial sources said. Authorities were later informed on Aug. 18 that the recording existed, and it was subsequently provided to investigators.
A Council of Forensic Medicine administrator who had responded that the recording did not exist is now being investigated initially on suspicion of forgery of an official document, the sources said.
Body exhumed for further tests
Denizolgun’s body was exhumed on Aug. 19 as part of the investigation, allowing authorities to obtain new samples for forensic examination.
The expert report called for Denizolgun’s full medical history, material from the Sept. 8, 2016, autopsy and any remaining reference tissue samples to be reassessed alongside samples obtained from the exhumation.
Investigators will also examine phone traffic records, correspondence with the Council of Forensic Medicine and Riva Police Station, communications with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and records connected to Denizolgun’s estate proceedings.
Prosecutors said the investigation could be further expanded based on witness testimony and additional evidence.
The latest findings mark a significant shift in the decade-old case, replacing the previous assumption of a natural death with a broader inquiry into the circumstances and possible causes of Denizolgun’s death.
Former Minister Denizolgun was also the leader of the “Süleymancılar” group before Alihan Kuriş, who was recently remanded in custody, along with other suspects.
Kuriş described himself to prosecutors as the heir and representative of Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan, an influential 20th-century Islamic scholar, and said he was a community leader. The “Süleymancılar” group originated as a religious movement named after Tunahan, Kuriş’s great-grandfather.
Initially operating through informal religious instruction in homes and mosques, the group later expanded across Türkiye through Quran courses and student dormitories, largely financed by membership contributions and donations. Over time, its activities expanded into commercial sectors including food, health care, tourism, textiles, construction and real estate.
10 arrested in Kuriş probe
The development comes as authorities pursue a separate investigation into what prosecutors describe as the Alihan Kuriş criminal organization.
Ten suspects detained during operations carried out on Aug. 21-22 were arrested after being referred to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, according to judicial sources.
Prosecutors said the wider investigation is examining the group’s alleged activities and financial structure, assets believed to have been obtained through criminal proceeds and individuals and organizations suspected of links to the group.
Authorities said both investigations remain ongoing.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday said Türkiye has no option but to remain strong and united amid growing regional challenges
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt) at the Malazgirt Battlefield National Historical Park in the eastern province of Muş, Erdoğan said Türkiye would not bow to pressure when its sovereignty and future were at stake.
“When necessary, we can set everything else aside, but when it comes to our homeland and the future of our state and nation, we bow to no one,” Erdoğan said. “In this geography, we have no other choice but to be strong, united and together.”
The annual commemoration marks the 1071 Battle of Manzikert, in which Seljuk forces led by Sultan Alparslan defeated the Byzantine army, paving the way for increased Turkish settlement in Anatolia.
On Friday, Aug. 26, 1071, Alparslan led his troops in prayer before advancing against the Byzantine army commanded by Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes.
The Seljuks secured a decisive victory after employing the “Turan” tactic, a battlefield strategy involving a feigned retreat to draw enemy forces into an encirclement. Romanos IV was captured during the battle.
The victory significantly weakened Byzantine control in the region and accelerated the process of Turkic settlement and expansion into Anatolia.
The Battle of Manzikert, widely regarded in Turkish history as the victory that “opened the gates of Anatolia to the Turks,” had far-reaching political and military consequences and strengthened the Seljuks’ position as a leading power in the Islamic world.
Referring to Israel’s attacks and expansionist policies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria and conflicts mounting in the region, the Turkish president further noted Türkiye was navigating a period of significant regional transformation.
“Everyone, friend or foe, should know and understand this: History is being rewritten in our region,” Erdoğan underlined. “Türkiye is shaping history with its conscientious, principled and peaceful policies. No one can stop this anymore.”
Israel has attacked Lebanon since March 2, claiming to target Hezbollah. The latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has killed 3,412 people in Lebanon and displaced more than 1 million people, according to sources.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has climbed to 73,417, with another 10 Palestinians killed and 25 others wounded over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry announced last week.
Numerous victims remain buried under the rubble, with ambulance and civil-defense teams unable to reach them, it said.
Alongside the casualties, most of whom are women and children, Israel has destroyed around 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, with the U.N. estimating total reconstruction costs at some $70 billion.
Erdoğan also warned against what he described as attempts to provoke Türkiye or divert it from its course.
“Those who think they can stop the blessed march of Türkiye and the Turkish nation through provocations and traps are doomed to disappointment,” he said. “We do not take different paths because of someone else’s provocations.”
Israeli airstrikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province on Aug. 18.
Israel has carried out repeated strikes on Syrian military sites since Assad’s fall, claiming its actions were necessary to protect its security. Syria has denied posing a threat to Israel and has demanded an end to Israeli strikes and incursions.
Commitment to Terror-free Türkiye
Erdoğan devoted part of his address to the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, saying Ankara was prepared to take responsibility to secure lasting peace and stability.
“We have put our body under the stone,” Erdoğan stressed, using a Turkish expression meaning taking full responsibility. “Geographically, we do not live in a rose garden without thorns.”
He said Türkiye had committed itself to achieving the goals of a “Terror-Free Türkiye” and a “terror-free region,” repeating that national unity was essential given the security challenges surrounding the country.
The remarks came two days after a newly established Monitoring and Evaluation Board held its first meeting in Ankara as part of the legal framework governing the process.
The meeting, chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz at the presidential complex on Aug. 24, brought together senior officials including Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and National Intelligence Organization chief İbrahim Kalın.
The meeting resulted in the establishment of four subcommissions tasked with overseeing different aspects of the process.
They include a Judicial and Legal Affairs Coordination Subcommission, a Monitoring and Verification Subcommission, a Social Cohesion and Integration Subcommission and a Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Subcommission, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
The bodies are expected to work on issues including weapons surrender and mechanisms to verify developments on the ground. Authorities are expected to monitor where, when and under what procedures weapons are handed over.
The judicial subcommission is expected to receive input from Justice Ministry officials as well as judges and prosecutors involved in implementation. It is expected to classify the cases of militants who surrender according to their legal status.
Following the board’s first meeting, officials said administrative mechanisms had been rapidly activated to implement the initiative.
“Our state, with all its institutions acting in full coordination, will continue to resolutely implement these historic steps that will strengthen social integration,” the statement said.
The 70th and 71st hearings in the case against former Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who faces a prison sentence ranging from 828 years and two months to 2,352 years for 142 alleged acts, were held Wednesday, with the court hearing the defenses of several defendants who are not in custody.
The trial concerns 414 defendants, including 53 in pretrial detention, in the case involving the alleged “Imamoğlu profit-driven criminal organization.”
Alleged bribery admissions by defendants drew attention during the hearings. Bayram Yıldırım, the former driver of Ertan Yıldız, head of the IBB Council’s Affiliates and Subsidiaries Commission, told the court about what he described as the inner workings of the alleged network.
“I found many tablets and phones in a box that Ertan Yıldız gave me,” Yıldırım said.
The corruption investigation into Imamoğlu, who was removed from his post as IBB mayor and arrested, was completed with the preparation of a 3,809-page indictment on Nov. 11, 2025.
The indictment alleges that Imamoğlu, identified as the “leader of the organization,” committed several offenses, including “establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes,” bribery and money laundering.
Yıldırım, who is not in custody, said he had provided testimony as part of an effective remorse provision, which allows defendants to receive legal benefits in exchange for helping authorities uncover a crime.
“I started working in 2019 as Ertan Yıldız’s official driver. I also handled his household and personal affairs and looked after his family,” Yıldırım said.
“One day, Ertan Yıldız gave me a box. We then went to Bakırköy Municipality. I called Mustafa, the driver of Ibrahim Özkan, and asked him what was inside. The box was slightly open. I looked inside and saw many tablets and phones.”
Yıldırım said Yıldız later promised to help him.
“Ertan Yıldız told me, ‘I will look after your family, hire a lawyer for you and save you.’ The lawyer he sent deceived me by telling me I would be released. I was arrested because I could not tell anyone what I had seen. When I came here, I told the prosecutor, ‘I want to benefit from effective remorse,’ and I told them what I knew,” he said.
During cross-examination, prosecutors asked defendant Bülent Yılmaz whether a previous statement he had given was accurate. The statement said that many of the events organized during Imamoğlu’s 2019 campaign for IBB mayor were carried out by Adem Soytekin, and that promotional materials distributed to the CHP’s election coordination center during the campaign were sent by Soytekin.
“That is correct,” Yılmaz replied. “The bags, tea, sugar and items sent to the provincial headquarters came from somewhere, but I did not know where they came from.”
Uğur Güngör, owner of Muscan İnşaat and a complainant who is not in custody, also testified in the case.
Güngör alleged that Imamoğlu amassed a “very large fortune” while serving as mayor of Beylikdüzü and claimed that Imamoğlu conducted municipal business through bribery in the Beylikdüzü and Büyükçekmece districts.
Güngör alleged that, during Imamoğlu’s tenure as Beylikdüzü mayor, he followed up on business dealings through Fatih Keleş, Adem Soytekin, Mehmet Murat Çalık and Tuncay Yılmaz.
“Adem Soytekin would give him plots of land without zoning approval, then have them rezoned, and the large revenues from these projects would be shared with Ekrem Imamoğlu,” Güngör said.
Güngör rejected allegations that he himself had paid bribes and described an alleged demand involving a construction project in Beylikdüzü in 2015 and 2016.
He said the owners of Gül Inşaat, Ali Gül, Zafer Gül and Osman Gül, sought to convert properties designated as residences into commercial units as part of a construction project.
“They were told that the company owners had to pay a bribe to the municipality for this to be done. They asked me for half of the bribe money. I refused. The bribe was TL 15 million ($311,600),” Güngör said.
He said he later met Zafer Gül and Mehmet Murat Çalık, who was Beylikdüzü’s deputy mayor at the time.
“Çalık demanded TL 15 million from me as a bribe. I refused to pay. Çalık then threatened me, saying, ‘If you get out of here, you will never get back in.’ We had an argument,” Güngör said.
He said Imamoğlu, who was Beylikdüzü mayor at the time, came out of his office next door during the argument and asked what was happening before leaving.
“Ekrem Imamoğlu was following the bribery dealings at the time,” Güngör said.
Güngör said he eventually agreed to provide promissory notes after repeated demands from Zafer Gül and Çalık.
“Zafer Gül took the promissory notes. Later, a man named Davut Akay said the notes were in the possession of Fatih Keleş, who was a CHP council member in Beylikdüzü Municipality at the time, and told us to make the payments to Keleş,” he said.
Güngör said he subsequently made payments to Keleş together with Zafer Gül, Akay and Oğuzhan Güney, who was the lawyer for the project at the time.
“For the remaining promissory notes, we agreed to give 13 apartments,” he said.
Güngör reiterated his allegations concerning Imamoğlu’s business dealings.
“Ali Gül is the owner of Gül İnşaat. They partnered with Ekrem Imamoğlu on the Vera project. Imamoğlu became very wealthy during his tenure as Beylikdüzü mayor. Imamoğlu conducts business through bribery in the Büyükçekmece and Beylikdüzü municipalities,” he said.
Güngör again alleged that İmamoğlu used Keleş, Soytekin, Çalık and Yılmaz to handle business dealings.
“Adem Soytekin would give him plots of land without zoning approval, then have them rezoned, and the large revenues from these projects would be shared with Ekrem Imamoğlu,” he said.
During the hearing, Çalık, another defendant, questioned Güngör. When Güngör attempted to question Çalık in response, the presiding judge intervened.
“The people here are in detention because of your statements. They have the right to ask questions,” the judge told Güngör.
Güngör was also asked by a defense lawyer about his statement that “Fatih Keleş is Ekrem Imamoğlu’s safe.”
Güngör qualified the statement, saying: “The statements here are not based on what I personally witnessed. They are based on things I heard from people around me.”
The hearing was adjourned for one hour.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has referred 49 members to disciplinary proceedings over allegations that they worked for another political party while remaining members of the CHP, party spokesperson Müslim Sarı said Wednesday.
The decision was made during meetings of the CHP’s Central Executive Board (MYK) and Party Assembly (PM) chaired by party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu at the party’s headquarters in Ankara.
Sarı said the party had previously warned that working for another political party while remaining within the CHP would be considered both unethical and subject to disciplinary rules.
“Today, at our party assembly, we referred a group of our colleagues to disciplinary proceedings with a request for precautionary measures,” Sarı said, adding that some had previously served in senior party bodies, including the Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board.
The party said 49 members were referred to disciplinary proceedings, including former CHP Secretary-General Selin Sayek Böke, Aylin Nazlıaka, Yalçın Karatepe and Ilhan Cihaner.
Sarı said the party assembly also reviewed requests for reinstatement from former members on a case-by-case basis and approved the return of a group of people under the relevant provisions of the party’s bylaws.
He also announced that the CHP would begin its congress process in September, with a timetable expected to be released for internal party contests.
Separately, Sarı welcomed the integration of the YPG terror group into the Syrian army, describing the development as a positive step for Syria and Türkiye’s security.
“We welcome the process of the YPG joining the Syrian army. We find it right. We regard it as good news,” Sarı noted.
He said maintaining Syria’s unitary state structure, ensuring representation of all communities and preserving a single Syrian state were important for Türkiye’s national security.
The U.S.-backed YPG terrorist group announced Tuesday that its so-called autonomous administration and all its military and civilian structures have been dissolved.
Sarı also dismissed speculation that Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş could leave the CHP to join the New Party (YP).
“Mansur Bey has decided to conduct politics within the institutional identity of the CHP,” Sarı said, adding that party officials remained in regular contact with the mayor.
“There is no issue or problem between us,” he added.
Another name rumored to be considering a move to Özgür Özel’s newly established New Party was Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, who is still a member of the CHP.
Özel repeatedly mentioned Yavaş in speeches ahead of the YP’s establishment, describing him as a key supporter.
The CHP and the YP have been engaged in a bitter dispute since Özel sought to reclaim the chairmanship he lost following a court ruling in May. Özel appealed the verdict, while his predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, returned to office and pledged to weed out “corrupt” members, referring to officials close to Özel whose names became entangled in corruption investigations. Before and after Özel established the YP, a wave of resignations and expulsions swept through the CHP.
Türkiye on Thursday welcomed the dissolution of the YPG terrorist group and its integration into Syrian state institutions, saying the development would strengthen Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the principle of “one state, one army.”
The Turkish Defense Ministry said the integration marked an important step toward consolidating stability in neighboring Syria.
“The dissolution of the SDF and its integration into Syrian state institutions is an important development in terms of preserving Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and strengthening the understanding of ‘one state, one army,’” the ministry stressed.
The remarks came in response to reporters’ questions following the ministry’s weekly press briefing, held at the Officers’ Club in the western province of Afyonkarahisar to mark the 104th anniversary of Türkiye’s Great Offensive.
The ministry said Türkiye welcomed the latest developments and would continue supporting efforts to extend the positive momentum across Syria and make stability permanent.
“The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will continue its support for extending the positive momentum achieved in Syria throughout the country, making stability permanent and developing the capacity of the Syrian army, particularly in the fight against terrorism, within the framework of the existing military cooperation agreement,” ministry spokesperson Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk said.
Monitoring Israeli attacks
The ministry also reiterated its criticism of Israel’s military actions in the region, describing them as a major obstacle to lasting peace and stability.
“Israel’s aggressive stance and expansionist policies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria continue to stand as the biggest obstacle to lasting peace and stability in the region,” Aktürk noted.
He said the region’s future should be built on international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states rather than the unilateral use of force, calling on the international community to take “concrete and effective measures” in response to Israeli actions that threaten regional and global peace and stability.
The ministry said it was closely monitoring Israeli attacks on Syria and reiterated its call for them to end immediately.
It also said Türkiye was following statements and reports concerning U.S. initiatives to establish a deconfliction mechanism that would include Syria.
No official request regarding such a mechanism has been submitted to the ministry, it said, adding that any request would be evaluated in coordination with the relevant Turkish authorities.
‘Terror-free Türkiye’ initiative
Turning to Türkiye’s ongoing counterterrorism initiative, the ministry said the Monitoring and Evaluation Board, which includes Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, held its first meeting under the chairpersonship of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz.
The board discussed procedures for its work and decided to establish four subcommittees, the ministry said.
“The healthy and stable progress of the ‘terror-free Türkiye’ process is important,” the ministry said.
It added that the Defense Ministry would continue working with relevant institutions to verify that terrorist organizations and affiliated structures had ended their presence and surrendered all weapons and ammunition.
Aktürk also stated five PKK terrorists surrendered to Turkish authorities over the past week.
Turkish security forces also apprehended 550 people, including one suspected member of a terrorist group, attempting to cross the country’s borders illegally over the past week, while another 807 people were prevented from crossing.
Since Jan. 1, 9,080 people have been apprehended while attempting to cross Türkiye’s borders illegally, and 47,384 others have been prevented from doing so, according to the ministry.
Security forces also seized 20 kilograms of drugs during search operations along the border in the southeastern province of Hakkari.
U.S. consultancy contract
The ministry also addressed reports about a service contract signed with a U.S.-based consultancy firm.
It said the initiative was part of a joint strategy designed to contribute to developing Türkiye-U.S. relations, strengthen institutional dialogue in defense and security and ensure Türkiye’s positions and priorities were accurately conveyed to relevant counterparts.
The contract was registered transparently and in accordance with the laws of both countries, the ministry stated.
It added that the agreement was not limited to any individual project or platform and said portraying it as being linked solely to a specific defense program did not accurately reflect its scope.
Patriot relocation from Karpathos
On reports concerning a Patriot air defense system on the Greek island of Karpathos, the ministry reiterated Türkiye’s position that the legal status of demilitarized islands is clearly established under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaties.
Türkiye maintains that Greece’s militarization of islands with demilitarized status violates its treaty obligations.
The ministry welcomed a reported decision to relocate Patriot air defense systems from Karpathos to Crete, describing it as a positive step toward reversing what Ankara considers an unlawful practice.
“Türkiye will continue to support all constructive steps that contribute to strengthening peace and stability in our region and comply with international law and obligations arising from treaties,” it said.
The ministry also responded to reports that Greece could establish a drone base on Rhodes, warning that such a move would violate the island’s demilitarized status.
“The demilitarized status of Rhodes is clearly and bindingly regulated by international treaties,” the ministry said.
A potential drone base on Rhodes would “constitute a violation of the island’s demilitarized status” and harm peace and stability in the Aegean as well as good-neighborly relations, the ministry noted.
“Türkiye will continue to resolutely protect its rights and interests arising from international treaties and take the necessary measures in this regard,” it added.
The dissolution of the YPG terrorist group and the integration of its armed elements into the Syrian military marks a major strategic achievement for Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while also dealing a setback to Israel, Israeli newspaper Maariv said in an analysis on Thursday.
The report said the decision followed pressure from the Syrian military, Türkiye’s support for Damascus and diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing armed groups under the authority of the Syrian state.
Maariv described the development as a significant success for Erdoğan in shaping the region’s future, arguing that Ankara was moving closer to achieving one of its longstanding security objectives in Syria without becoming involved in a large-scale direct conflict.
Türkiye considers the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which is designated a terrorist group by Türkiye, the U.S. and the European Union.
The integration of YPG elements into the Syrian military is also expected to reshape the balance of power in northern Syria and strengthen the central government in Damascus, the Israeli newspaper said.
Maariv characterized the development as a “strategic slap” for Israel, citing the YPG’s previous ties with the United States and contacts with Israel.
The newspaper said the development could further complicate Israel’s strategic position in the region as Türkiye expands its influence in Syria.
Israel in multiple fronts
Maariv also highlighted mounting pressure on the Israeli military as it operates across several fronts.
The newspaper said Israeli forces were facing demands ranging from Gaza and Lebanon to the occupied West Bank, raising concerns over limited personnel and military resources.
It said high-intensity operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon were expected to continue in the coming months, while two Israeli divisions were operating in Gaza.
In the occupied West Bank, the military was seeking an additional regular brigade amid concerns over another escalation, according to the report.
The analysis also criticized the Israeli government over what it described as a lack of political and strategic planning, saying the military was increasingly being tasked with addressing challenges for which political solutions had not been developed.
Military strength and personnel, the newspaper warned, were not unlimited.
On the other hand, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş underlined Wednesday that Israel was concerned about Türkiye’s efforts to establish an environment of peace and cooperation across the region.
“Israel fears only Türkiye. It fears the atmosphere of peace and brotherhood that Türkiye will create in its region, and we have to establish this,” Kurtulmuş said.
Kurtulmuş linked the dissolution of the YPG to Türkiye’s broader “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, arguing that the process could have implications beyond the country’s borders.
“We said that a terror-free Türkiye means a terror-free region. The first proof of this is when the YPG officially said, ‘We are no longer a terrorist organization,’” he stated.
Kurtulmuş said an environment of reconciliation in Türkiye could eventually spread throughout the region, including Syria and Iraq.
He also accused Israel of pursuing expansionist policies and said lasting peace in Syria, alongside stronger relations between Türkiye and Iraq, could facilitate greater cooperation among the region’s peoples.
“The people of this region were divided by borders, but they could not divide their hearts,” the parliament speaker noted.
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