Azerbaijan’s close ties with Israel and the recent flareup with Iran have helped perpetuate provocative social media posts in Türkiye.

Türkiye’s Center for Countering Disinformation on Saturday said that Türkiye and Azerbaijan have successfully overcome many challenges together, responding to posts containing criticism, disinformation and provocation targeting Azerbaijan and bilateral relations.

“Closely bound by unshakable historical ties and shared values, Türkiye and Azerbaijan have not only today but also in the past successfully overcome many challenges they faced,” the center, a subsidiary of Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, said in a statement on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

The center also noted that bilateral relations, led at the leadership level by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, continue to be carried out at all levels under the motto “One Nation, Two States.”

It also urged the public to remain cautious against exaggerated rhetoric, disinformation and black propaganda activities that could harm the brotherly ties between the two countries, and to consider official statements made by the authorities of Türkiye and Azerbaijan on critical issues.

At one point, social media posts reached a level calling for severing ties with Baku when Azerbaijan and Iran found themselves at odds after Azerbaijan accused Iran of committing terrorism after a drone strike in Nakhchivan last Thursday. Iran has denied firing any projectiles into Azerbaijan.

Türkiye has not officially taken a side in the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war and urges all sides to stop attacks. Yet, the war has apparently divided Turkish social media sphere, with some calling on Ankara to side with Iran against the imperialist ambitions of the U.S. and Israel. Azerbaijan’s preparation for retaliation against Iran, as evidenced in harsh remarks of President Ilham Aliyev following the Nakhchivan incident, angered this group unconditionally defending Iran. Others in the Turkish social media sphere point to Iran’s past record in the region in what they called a hidden Shiite-Sunni conflict spreading from Syria to Yemen and oppose support to Iran.

Social media was awash with disinformation and propaganda after the war began. Communications Directorate Chair Burhanettin Duran said on Saturday that 41 social media accounts disseminating disinformation and making provocative posts were blocked and 75 posts were removed from digital platforms.

Duran said that the directorate had discovered a massive disinformation campaign and online psychological warfare in light of the latest developments in the region. He also said certain social media accounts deliberately shared unverified content to stir panic and fear in the public, adding that relevant public agencies have been monitoring these actions. “Necessary steps against digital manipulation attempts targeting public order, social peace and national security have been taken,” Duran stated. He noted that the accounts blocked were on digital media platforms, X, Facebook and Instagram.

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Fourteen irregular migrants died after a smuggling boat sank off Türkiye’s southern coast early Monday, authorities said, as the country continues efforts to curb dangerous migrant crossings in the eastern Mediterranean.

Türkiye’s Coast Guard Command said the incident occurred off the coast of Finike district in Antalya province after a high-speed inflatable boat carrying a large number of migrants was detected by an unmanned aerial vehicle at 2:24 a.m.

Two coast guard boats were dispatched to intercept the vessel, which officials said was attempting to evade authorities.

According to the command’s statement, the boat, a high-speed inflatable with a fiber hull, ignored repeated visual and audio warnings from coast guard units and continued fleeing at high speed.

At around 5:09 a.m., the vessel abruptly turned toward a coast guard patrol boat during the pursuit, resulting in a collision that caused several migrants on board to fall into the sea.

Additional search and rescue units, including a coast guard helicopter, a patrol ship and three more boats, were immediately deployed to the area.

Authorities said rescue teams pulled six migrants alive from the water along with one Turkish suspect believed to be involved in migrant smuggling. The bodies of 14 migrants were recovered during search operations.

In a separate development related to the same incident, officials said another group of migrants reached shore after the boat fled the collision scene. Fifteen irregular migrants who disembarked near Beymelek beach in the Demre district were later apprehended by authorities.

Search and rescue operations remained ongoing to determine whether any additional migrants were missing, the coast guard said. Officials were also conducting interviews with survivors as part of the investigation.

The Finike Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a judicial inquiry into the incident, and six suspects believed to be involved in organizing the smuggling attempt have been taken into custody.

Türkiye, which sits on a major migration route toward Europe, has increased maritime patrols and operations targeting human trafficking networks that organize irregular sea crossings.

Authorities frequently warn that smuggling groups place migrants at serious risk by sending them to sea in overcrowded and unsafe boats while attempting to evade law enforcement.

The tragedy also comes amid a rising toll of migrant deaths across the Mediterranean. According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 606 migrants have been reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean since the start of 2026, marking the deadliest start to a year on the route since the agency began tracking such data in 2014.

IOM says many of the fatalities occur on the central Mediterranean route, where smugglers frequently use unseaworthy boats and attempt crossings in dangerous weather conditions.

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CNN International drew the ire of Türkiye for broadcasting a “misleading” map that misrepresents regions inhabited by Kurds, according to the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, which called the channel’s editorial framing “seriously concerning.”

In an official statement on Saturday, the directorate said the visual content and editorial framing used in a video broadcast by CNN International, which was also shared on the channel’s official social media accounts, raise serious concerns. The map in question depicted areas inhabited by Kurds in Türkiye and neighboring countries amid reports that the United States sought to drum up ground support by Kurdish groups in its war against Iran.

The directorate criticized it for offering a “misleading” and “reductive” portrayal of the region.

“Citizens of different identities and ethnic backgrounds live together across our country, sharing the same social, political and public life for generations.

“Every individual among our 86 million citizens is an inseparable part of the Republic of Türkiye and constitutes one of the fundamental elements of our society. Approaches that target our unity, togetherness, and brotherhood through simplified and selective geographic depictions distort this reality,” the statement said.

It also stressed that equating Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin with any political or armed actor is unacceptable.

“Such associations can strengthen narratives that misrepresent Türkiye’s social fabric and ignore the diversity and social cohesion within our population. The language and narrative used in the video, combined with the map, produce an artificial geopolitical interpretation that does not correspond to realities on the ground and may create unnecessary tensions.

“When reporting on sensitive regional issues, international media organizations are expected to exercise maximum care regarding accuracy, contextual sensitivity and editorial responsibility,” it stated.

The directorate concluded by calling on CNN International to avoid using misleading maps and visual representations in its broadcasts and digital platforms and to exercise higher editorial diligence in future reporting.

It reiterated Türkiye’s commitment, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to embrace diversity as a strength, reinforce unity and brotherhood, and implement policies prioritizing the well-being and prosperity of all citizens.

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Türkiye is considering deploying F-16 fighter jets to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a defense ministry source said Saturday.

The person said such a move was one ⁠of the ⁠steps being considered amid the phased planning underway to ensure the security ⁠of Turkish Cypriots in the north of the ⁠island, as tensions rise in the Middle East with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Regional tensions surged after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliation by Tehran on U.S. military targets across the region.

TRNC has been incensed by Greek Cypriot’s growing military cooperation with its Western partners after the United Kingdom has allowed the U.S. to use its military base in the south of the divided island.

British facilities on the island, particularly the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri, have played an important logistical role in Western military operations in the Middle East in recent years. Iranian forces have warned that installations linked to Western operations could become targets if regional hostilities escalate.

The TRNC leadership has held a series of security meetings in response to the crisis, he added, focusing on crisis management, coordination with Türkiye and the preparedness of civil defense mechanisms.

Cyprus has remained divided for more than five decades between the Turkish Cypriot north and the Greek Cypriot south despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the U.N. to achieve a comprehensive settlement. The TRNC was established in 1983 and is recognized only by Türkiye, while the Greek Cypriot administration represents the island internationally and joined the European Union in 2004.

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In the midst of a conflict gripping the region, Türkiye walks a thin line of neutrality. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Ankara would continue to maintain diplomatic contacts to help bring an end to the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

Speaking after an informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Fidan said: ” (Iranian President) Mr. Pezeshkian’s statement, ‘We will not attack unless attacked. We apologize for attacking,’ is a statement that we have emphasized,” adding that various reservations have been made in Iran regarding this statement, but this is an internal matter within the Iranian system.

Emphasizing that Israel’s expansionist and divisive agenda is widely known, Fidan said: “Israel has adopted a strategy of causing instability, conflicts, and civil wars throughout the region. Together with our friendly and brotherly countries, we have adopted a peace-oriented policy against this approach.”

He also said Türkiye has maintained peace, security and stability despite the turmoil around it, attributing this to the sound foreign policy pursued under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Fidan will be joined by Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler on Tuesday at Parliament. The two ministers will inform lawmakers about the war, developments in the Middle East and measures Türkiye took against the spillover of the conflict. It is unclear whether the briefing by Güler and Fidan will be closed to the press, but briefings regarding national security are often closed to the press at the Turkish Parliament.

“I want to emphasize once again that we strongly condemn attacks targeting third countries,” Fidan said in his remarks on Saturday, noting that attacks targeting Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain endanger the lives of innocent civilians and increase the risk of the war spreading.

He said using attacks on neighboring countries as a pressure tactic, unless directly attacked, is neither a sound war strategy nor beneficial for regional stability.

Fidan said Türkiye anticipated how Iran might respond to crises even before strikes by the U.S. and Israel. He added that Ankara had long advised Tehran to avoid targeting neighboring countries and to pursue dialogue with Washington about its nuclear dispute while preserving regional stability.

The foreign minister also said that it is not the right strategy to attack civilian and energy infrastructure of countries that do not allow their airspace to be used by others or the use of foreign military bases on their territory.

“This would only serve to further Israel’s expansionist agenda in the region. We have stated that this is not the right strategy,” the foreign minister added.

Fidan said a large majority of global public opinion supports ending the war, noting that some countries have taken open positions like Spain, while others raise the issue privately.

He said Türkiye is working to turn this international consensus into concrete diplomatic action, similar to the global stance seen during the State of Palestine recognition process at the U.N.

“The targeting of our country and Azerbaijan this week has once again shown how great the risk we face is,” he said, adding that they have repeatedly reminded everyone that similar incidents should not be repeated.

Fidan also referred to a missile that was shot down entering Türkiye’s airspace, saying the country does not easily fall for provocations and has no difficulty defending its security, but also knows the risks of being dragged into a wider conflict.

“If this were a missile that lost its course, that is one thing. But such incidents should happen only once. If there are going to be more, our advice is: Please be careful, no one in Iran should embark on such an adventure,” he said, adding that despite years of sanctions and pressure on Iran, Türkiye has consistently maintained a principled, transparent stance and worked to promote peace and stability in the region.

He added that despite years of sanctions and pressure on Iran, Türkiye has repeatedly demonstrated its friendship, maintained a principled position and remained one of the few countries acting transparently and in line with clear principles.

Israel’s intentions

Responding to a question about claims that the U.S. may be organizing Kurdish groups to help overthrow the Iranian government, Fidan said Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization and defense authorities are closely monitoring those activities.

He said he discussed the issue in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that Washington was not pursuing the effort.

Fidan, however, said Israel’s intentions in this regard were “no secret.”

“Israel has for many years adopted a strategy of using Kurdish groups in the region as proxy forces,” he said, adding that during current developments in Iran, Israeli circles have continued to signal their intention to use Kurdish groups in a similar manner.

He said it remains unclear how much the U.S. would support, distance itself from or remain neutral toward the strategy.

Fidan warned that any scenario aimed at triggering a civil war in Iran along ethnic or sectarian fault lines would be the most dangerous outcome.

“This would not only cause more suffering and loss of life among innocent civilians in Iran, but could also lead to millions of people being displaced and forced to flee to neighboring countries and beyond as refugees,” he said.

Fidan expressed hope that Kurdish opinion leaders in the region would avoid taking on such a historic responsibility.

He added that Türkiye is also maintaining contact with various regional actors, including Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani and other authorities.

“After Iraq and Syria, a prolonged period of uncertainty, war and instability in Iran would benefit no one,” he said, noting that Türkiye shares a border of more than 560 kilometers (348 miles) with Iran.

“Any internal crisis in such a large country would inevitably spread across the region with a multiplier effect. That is why we are seeking ways to prevent such a scenario and keep the situation under control,” Fidan added.

Turkic cooperation

Fidan said OTS members maintain cooperation based on mutual trust and have achieved concrete progress in areas such as the economy, culture and connectivity, while working closely to develop a common stance on global developments.

He warned that the international system is becoming increasingly unpredictable and that international law is being disregarded more frequently, stressing that greater solidarity among Turkic states is therefore becoming more important.

Fidan said OTS member states had adopted a statement regarding regional developments, noting that any attack targeting one member state would be a source of great concern for all members of the organization.

He thanked member countries for their strong support and solidarity in the face of attacks targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

The foreign minister said the war in the region must end as soon as possible, stressing that diplomacy is the only viable solution.

“We have spent months trying to establish a negotiation table. Even today, we continue to say that diplomacy is the only option to resolve the problems,” he said.

Fidan warned that conflicts may benefit terror groups and threaten global energy security, and that Türkiye is closely monitoring the safety of its citizens and is maintaining full diplomatic and consular support in the region.

He also welcomed steps by Azerbaijan and Armenia toward lasting peace, saying they show that stability is beginning to take hold in the South Caucasus, and expressed hope that the momentum will soon lead to a permanent peace agreement.

He added that peace and stability in Afghanistan are crucial for the region, noting that several Turkic states border the country and that rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are being closely monitored.

Fidan said ending the long-standing isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a shared historical responsibility.

He also emphasized strengthening energy security, connectivity and regional cooperation, including increasing infrastructure investments to enhance the East-West Middle Corridor across the Caspian region.

He said OTS members will continue working in close coordination to strengthen cooperation and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Türkiye on Friday denied reports published by a foreign news agency claiming that the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) had asked Britain’s MI6 to increase protection for Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Directorate’s Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) said the report does not reflect the truth and described the claims as unfounded.

The statement stressed that MIT maintains active cooperation with both the international intelligence community and Syria’s security institutions in the fight against terrorism.

Officials noted that recent successful operations carried out jointly with Syrian authorities against the Daesh terrorist group are among the latest examples of this cooperation.

However, the DMM statement said it is not true that MIT requested Britain’s intelligence agency MI6 to take on any role in protecting Syria’s president, as alleged in the report.

The DMM also urged the public not to give credence to baseless claims and misleading content circulating in the media.

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