Politics
Turkish, Pakistani intelligence nab key Daesh member
Cooperation between Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) led to the capture of Özgür Altun, one of the most wanted terrorists within an international network of Daesh. Altun, a terrorist of Turkish origin also known under the alias “Abu Yasir Al Turki,” was once promoted in Daesh-linked publications as the group’s “media spokesperson.”
Security sources said on Sunday Altun was captured on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border by Pakistani intelligence and handed over to MIT. It is the first high-profile, public display of cooperation between the intelligence services of the two countries, whose leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stronger bonds in a trilateral summit in Azerbaijan last month.
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.
Sources said Özgür Altun, who was placed in the “orange” category of the most wanted terrorists list by the Interior Ministry, was identified through the work of MIT, which discovered a Turkish-origin suspect who organized crossings of Daesh recruits into Afghanistan and Pakistan from Europe and Central Asian countries. The suspect was the highest-ranking Daesh member of Turkish origin working in the group’s “media and logistics” branch and was also behind planning attacks against Türkiye and in crowded places in Europe, such as concert venues. Further intelligence work revealed that Altun was in charge of the “Turkish media” arm of the so-called Daesh Khorasan Province (Daesh-K) network, disseminating Turkish language propaganda for the group.
Altun illegally traveled to Afghanistan from Türkiye and was active in that country. MIT found that he was planning to cross into Pakistan and contacted ISI. ISI officials offered full support to MIT, underlining that Türkiye’s enemy was also Pakistan’s enemy, security sources said. ISI then launched a precision operation in cooperation with MIT and captured Altun on the border. Altun was deported to Türkiye, where he was questioned and confessed to his role in the group. Altun acknowledged that he was in charge of Daesh publications in Turkish and English and also coordinated the recruitment of people from Türkiye for Daesh activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also confessed his role in motivating so-called lone wolves across the world to carry out terror attacks.
Since the 2019 collapse of the self-proclaimed “caliphate,” some suspected Daesh members have settled in Türkiye, operating a 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.
The National Intelligence Organization (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.
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.
In December last year, Turkish security forces detained 32 suspects over alleged links with Daesh, who were planning attacks on churches and synagogues, as well as the Iraqi Embassy.
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.
Türkiye’s Disinformation Combat Center (DMM) on Monday has denied reports alleging that Turkish fighter jets harassed aircraft carrying Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and other European officials or violated Greek airspace.
In a statement posted on social media, the DMM described the claims as false and said Turkish aircraft did not engage in any harassment activities.
According to the statement, six aircraft were operating on routes between Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration on June 7. The DMM said four of those aircraft violated the airspace of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), prompting the deployment of two Turkish F-16 fighter jets stationed in the TRNC for air policing duties.
The agency said the Turkish jets operated exclusively within TRNC airspace and did not enter the airspace of the Greek Cypriot administration.
The DMM also rejected allegations that Turkish aircraft violated Greek airspace during flights conducted on June 6 as part of celebrations marking the 115th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force and the “Youth and Aviation Festival.”
According to the statement, all flights were carried out within the designated operational area of the 2nd Main Jet Base Command and did not enter Greek airspace.
The center urged the public not to give credence to what it described as claims aimed at creating provocation and misleading international audiences.
The allegations emerged amid longstanding tensions between Türkiye and Greece over airspace, maritime boundaries and Eastern Mediterranean disputes.
Tensions have flared intermittently in recent years between the historic rivals, who remain divided over where their continental shelves begin and end in the Aegean, an area believed to hold significant energy potential and linked to disputes over airspace and overflights.
Türkiye and Greece are at odds over a range of issues, including disputes in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, airspace and maritime jurisdiction claims, the status of demilitarized islands and the Cyprus question.
Despite periodic tensions, the two NATO allies have in recent years pursued a cautious normalization process through high-level diplomatic contacts, confidence-building measures and cooperation on trade, migration and tourism, while continuing to maintain sharply differing positions on sovereignty and regional security matters.
On the other hand, Ankara deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to the TRNC on March 9, describing the move as a legitimate measure to strengthen deterrence and protect airspace against rising missile and drone threats.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is already divided but all eyes are still on the party’s parliamentary group meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
In the Turkish political tradition, group meetings offer a platform for the chairs to relay the party’s views on current developments and broadcast live on national television. The CHP, however, now has two chairs: Özgür Özel, who was ousted from the office over a vote-buying trial, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, his predecessor who was reinstated as the outcome of the same trial.
Özel last week defied the Kılıçdaroğlu administration and spoke at the parliamentary group meeting, this time as parliamentary group chairperson of the party. His speech was peppered with criticism of the Kılıçdaroğlu administration and the former leader now apparently decided to hit back as he announced he would address the lawmakers at Tuesday’s meeting at Parliament. It is unclear whether Özel will attempt to make the speech in the presence of the chair, who was branded as “traitor” by Özel’s supporters. But all signs show he is intent to defy Kılıçdaroğlu. Özel was scheduled to attend an event to honor a late mayor of the CHP in his constituency Manisa but media outlets reported that he scrapped the plans and will be at the parliament on Tuesday.
It is the first time at Parliament that a party is sharply divided yet all members still retain memberships. The CHP is notorious for disrupting the parliamentary sessions in the past but this time, it is likely that the parliamentary group meeting will be a chaotic occasion as the anger is brewing over Kılıçdaroğlu’s reinstatement.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan persuaded U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon a plan to arm Iranian opposition groups and Iraqi Kurdish groups against Tehran after details of the proposal were allegedly leaked to Türkiye by officials within the White House, Israeli media outlets reported Friday.
Citing security sources, The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli officials believed Washington would support the proposal because it could increase pressure on Tehran without requiring U.S. ground forces to enter Iran.
The report alleged that details of the initiative, which involved arming Iranian opposition and Iraqi Kurdish groups, were passed to Türkiye by certain White House officials. According to the claims, Erdoğan subsequently raised the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump and convinced him to cancel the plan.
Israeli sources reportedly accused U.S. Vice President JD Vance of leaking information about the proposal. However, Vance’s special assistant and press secretary, Luke Schroeder, denied the allegation.
Under the reported plan, Israel would have provided not only a no-fly zone for Kurdish groups but also air support against Iranian forces attempting to halt their advance.
The report further claimed that Israel intended to supply opposition groups with weapons seized from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It added that publication of the information had received approval from Israeli military censors.
The allegations follow remarks by former Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) chief Tamir Hayman, who recently told U.S. broadcaster PBS that Israel had explored a range of covert options aimed at destabilizing the Iranian government.
According to Hayman, those discussions included encouraging attacks by groups opposed to Tehran, including organizations linked to the PKK terrorist group, and other efforts designed to weaken the Iranian leadership.
Hayman also claimed that a plan to arm anti-Iran Kurdish groups ultimately failed after Erdoğan persuaded Trump not to proceed.
Separate reports in the Israeli press later alleged that Mossad had supplied weapons to Iranian opposition Kurdish groups as part of efforts to undermine the government in Tehran.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş on Friday called for intensified efforts to build a new global political and economic order, arguing that existing international institutions are increasingly unable to respond to conflicts and global crises.
Speaking at a roundtable event hosted by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs during an official visit to Stockholm, Kurtulmuş met with academics, diplomats and representatives of think tanks to discuss Türkiye’s role in a changing world, the future of Europe, NATO and the reform of the international system.
Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s long-standing call for reform of the United Nations Security Council, “The world is bigger than five,” Kurtulmuş said, “We must intensify our efforts toward establishing a new global economic and political architecture. More than ever, what is needed today is a renewed commitment to dialogue, negotiation and mediation for peace.”
Kurtulmuş emphasized that the world was undergoing a profound transformation marked by armed conflicts, migration pressures, climate change and rapid technological advances. He argued that current international institutions have suffered a loss of both legitimacy and effectiveness.
“The institutions still exist, but their influence is becoming increasingly limited,” he said. “The United Nations Security Council’s capacity to prevent crises and end wars has been largely neutralized by the veto powers of its permanent members.”
He pointed to the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict involving Iran, and the situation in Gaza as examples of the shortcomings of the current international system.
Kurtulmuş accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and imposing an apartheid-like regime on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, describing the Palestinian issue as a test of humanity’s conscience.
“When Gaza is destroyed and this is described as an operation, when the discourse of counterterrorism is used to justify genocide, and when humanitarian aid blockades are presented as security measures, international law begins to collapse,” he said.
The speaker also highlighted growing strategic ties between Türkiye and Sweden following Stockholm’s accession to NATO in 2024, saying the alliance remained a cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security.
Kurtulmuş noted that Türkiye would host two major NATO gatherings in the coming weeks: the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul on June 28-29 and the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara on July 7-8.
He said the meetings would provide an opportunity to reaffirm the alliance’s political unity and strategic objectives while strengthening transatlantic ties.
A fisherman was killed after a Turkish-flagged fishing boat was attacked in the Black Sea west of the Crimean Peninsula, causing the vessel to sink, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Coast Guard Command.
The vessel, identified as the DURU 67, was operating off Sevastopol when it sustained damage during the attack on June 5, the statement said.
A nearby Turkish fishing boat, BURAK KAYA, evacuated five injured fishermen from the sinking vessel and began heading toward the northern Turkish coast near Inebolu. However, one of the injured fishermen, who was reported to be in critical condition, died during the journey.
The Coast Guard said patrol vessel TCSG-96 reached BURAK KAYA at 7:20 p.m. local time in the northern section of Türkiye’s Search and Rescue Region, about 115 nautical miles from İnebolu Port.
The body of the deceased fisherman and the injured crew members were transferred to the Coast Guard vessel, where medical treatment was initiated before returning to İnebolu.
The perpetrator of the attack was not immediately identified.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to keeping the Rohingya crisis on the international agenda and pledged continued support for displaced Muslims during talks with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka on Friday.
Speaking at a joint news conference following their meeting, Fidan said Türkiye was working closely with neighboring countries and international organizations to achieve a “permanent and just solution” to the Rohingya issue.
“We are acting in solidarity and coordination with relevant neighboring countries and organizations to find a lasting and fair solution to the Rohingya issue,” Fidan noted.
“As Türkiye, we are making intensive efforts to keep this crisis on the agenda of the international community.”
More than 1 million Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled violence and persecution in neighboring Myanmar, are currently living in camps in Bangladesh, primarily in the southeastern district of Cox’s Bazar.
Fidan praised Bangladesh for hosting the refugees for years, describing the country’s efforts as a “historic sacrifice on behalf of humanity.”
He said Türkiye would continue providing humanitarian assistance while supporting the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya refugees to their homeland.
The Turkish foreign minister’s remarks came during his first official visit to Bangladesh, where he held talks on bilateral ties, regional security and economic cooperation.
Fidan congratulated Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, saying the outcome reflected the international community’s confidence in Bangladesh and its growing role on the global stage.
“The result is a very important indication of the respect the international community has for Bangladesh,” Fidan said.
The two ministers also discussed expanding trade and investment between the countries. Bilateral trade currently stands at approximately $1.3 billion, and both sides expressed a desire to increase that figure to $2 billion.
Fidan said Türkiye and Bangladesh were committed to deepening cooperation across a broad range of sectors, including defense, energy, education, culture, science and health care.
During the visit, Türkiye and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the protection of cultural heritage. Fidan stressed that the agreement reflected both countries’ commitment to preserving humanity’s shared cultural legacy.
For his part, Rahman described Türkiye as an important strategic partner and thanked Ankara for supporting Bangladesh’s candidacy for the presidency of the U.N. General Assembly.
“Türkiye is an extremely important partner. It was one of the key countries supporting Bangladesh’s candidacy for the presidency of the U.N. General Assembly,” Rahman said.
He also expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s longstanding support during the Rohingya crisis, highlighting Ankara’s humanitarian assistance and diplomatic efforts since the beginning of the refugee influx.
Rahman noted that Fidan would visit Rohingya refugee camps during his trip and said the Turkish-run field hospital in Cox’s Bazar had become one of the most important support mechanisms for refugees and local communities.
The Bangladeshi minister added that Türkiye had contributed not only through humanitarian aid but also through regional and international diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis.
Both ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation and working together to promote stability, prosperity and security across South Asia amid growing regional and global challenges.
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