Politics
Türkiye vows continued counterterrorism support to Syria
Türkiye’s unwavering support for the new administration in Syria is strengthened further after Damascus dealt a blow to the autonomy ambitions of the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG in the past two weeks.
The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Thursday that Türkiye supported the Syrian army’s operations, which started from Aleppo and extended to other areas occupied by the YPG.
“Operations aimed to restore public order and ensure the safety of Syrian citizens. In this context, it is crucial for lasting stability in Syria that the YPG should comply with the March 10 and Jan. 18 agreements,” the ministry said.
Syria’s government on Tuesday gave the YPG four days to submit a detailed plan for full integration into state institutions, marking a decisive step toward restoring central authority over the country’s northeast. In a statement issued late Tuesday, the deadline was part of a broader effort to achieve what it described as a “united and indivisible Syria” through dialogue and a peaceful transition, while warning that military options would remain on the table if negotiations fail.
The announcement follows a series of talks between Damascus and the YPG over the future of Hassakeh province and other areas long outside government control. Syrian officials said preliminary agreements had been reached on key administrative and security issues, but stressed that implementation now depends on concrete steps by the group.
The ministry said Türkiye is committed to supporting “one state, one army” in Syria and would continue helping the Syrian state’s fight against terrorist groups and boosting its defense capacity, to preserve its unity and territorial integrity.
The Syrian army’s operations ended the presence of the YPG in Aleppo’s two neighborhoods first. As the YPG withdrew, Syrian troops pushed further to the north, moving to clear Deir el-Zour and Raqqa from the terrorist group’s occupation. Eventually, the YPG accepted a deal with Damascus for their integration, which was originally included in the March 2025 deal.
The defeat of the YPG has triggered protests by groups sympathizing with the terrorist group PKK, with whom the YPG is affiliated. A mob tried to cross into Syria from Türkiye in the southeastern town of Nusaybin on Monday, and they took down the Turkish flag on the border, sparking outrage in the country where the flag is almost a sacred symbol.
The Defense Ministry said in Thursday’s statement that the incidents were “an organized act of provocation.”
“The state is doing what it should for perpetrators of the incidents. An administrative inquiry is also immediately launched after the incident,” the ministry said.
Critics of the incident have claimed that local authorities in Nusaybin failed to stop the flag incident, unlike a 1996 event in Cyprus where Turkish troops shot down a protester attempting to bring down a flag on a military post.
A joint report by the Turkish Parliament’s National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Committee will be further discussed this week at Parliament. The report on the terror-free Türkiye initiative includes legislative proposals for the next steps for the disarmament of the PKK terrorist group.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, who also serves as chair of the committee, brought together representatives of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and the New Path Group the previous week to discuss the report. This week, he invited representatives of the New Welfare Party (YRP), the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Labor Party (EMEP), the Workers’ Party (TIP) and the Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR) for discussions. None of the parties have parliamentary group though they contributed to the committee.
The committee is viewed as instrumental in advancing the terror-free Türkiye initiative, which was so far confined to unilateral moves by the PKK. The terrorist group complied with its jailed ringleader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for dissolution last year. It started abandoning weapons and withdrawing from Türkiye in 2025 but fate of its members remain unclear. The committee is expected to tackle this issue through the report, which will serve as a guide for lawmakers for new bills and amendments.
Legislative steps are a tricky issue as authorities strive to clarify that it would not provide impunity to the PKK, which has killed tens of thousands of people in Türkiye since 1980s. Nevertheless, the DEM Party, linked to the PKK, advocates that the terrorist group’s members should benefit from the initiative in exchange for laying down arms.
So-called “return home laws” are expected to be included in the final version of the report, cover sentencing or non-prosecution for members of the PKK involved or not involved in acts of terrorism if they return to Türkiye. The PKK is currently based in northern Iraq, while its wings are active in Syria and Iran as well. A report by the Sabah newspaper says the return of PKK members to Türkiye would be subject to intense scrutiny and even those without a criminal record would be subject to legal proceedings once they return to Türkiye. Those not involved in crimes while working for the PKK will be released with judiciary control after they testify, the newspaper reported.
Efkan Ala, acting chair of the AK Party, says problems may arise in resolving such “a significant problem.” “We have to be careful against provocation. There may be some delays but we have no hesitation in the course of (solution). We resolve every new issue and move forward,” he told Demirören News Agency (DHA) on Sunday.
Ala, a former interior minister, was part of efforts in a similar initiative conducted by the government more than a decade ago. Most recently, he joined President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as he received a delegation from the DEM Party who was tasked with relaying messages of Öcalan from prison to the public and Parliament.
“Important developments are underway and the initiative moves on the right path. This problem will be resolved just the way we desired,” he said.
He stated that they expected the parliamentary report to be made public in the coming days. “We have no issues related to dialogue. A mechanism was set up to resolve any issues related to the initiative. Our citizens should be rest assured,” he said.
The terror-free Türkiye initiative launched by government ally MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli involves full disarmament of the PKK terrorist group. The PKK is responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of people since the 1980s in its campaign of violence, under the pretext of founding a self-styled “Kurdish state” in southeastern Türkiye. Disarming the PKK is a highly divisive issue for Türkiye, although opinion polls show the public supports the initiative. Critics of the plan claim it is a betrayal of victims of PKK terrorism and portray it as a bargaining process with the PKK. Authorities, however, deny that any negotiations for disarmament are out of the question.
In a speech at Parliament earlier this month, Erdoğan stated that the People’s Alliance of the AK Party and the MHP worked in solidarity, within the same strategy and tactics, “acting with courage at critical turning points.”
He said that the parliamentary report will be approved with “constructive contribution of political parties.”
“After the report is released, political institutions will have a greater responsibility. The AK Party will act responsibly in this process, and we will be more constructive, more embracing. We won’t avoid taking risks,” he said, adding that at the same time, they would not overshadow the memory of martyrs died (in counterterrorism operations).
Recently, discussions over the potential participation of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in a possible Gaza Task Force, coupled with ministry officials’ repeated emphasis that the TSK is “ready for duty anytime, anywhere,” have brought renewed attention to Türkiye’s previous and ongoing missions across the world.
“A country’s foreign policy is effective when its elements of national power are strong and act in coordination. Among these elements, military power serves as a source of deterrence and influence in external affairs. The scope and impact of a country’s foreign policy are often shaped by the effectiveness and reach of its military capability,” a professor and military strategist, Ali Fuat Gökçe told Daily Sabah.
Throughout the years, the TSK have operated alongside other militaries in a spirit of solidarity and coordination, carrying out cross-border operations and contributing to the success of NATO missions through training, discipline and modern equipment.
Gökçe stated that Türkiye has significantly bolstered its military capabilities in recent years through domestically developed defense systems, strengthening both its deterrent posture and its leverage in foreign policy across key regions, including Syria, the Caucasus, the Black Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea.
“In what Ankara considers strategically important, such as Somalia, Libya and tensions between Pakistan and India, Türkiye has increasingly emerged not as a passive participant in diplomatic processes, but as a proactive actor shaping negotiations and setting the agenda,” he adds.
The TSK has extensive experience in peace support and international missions across multiple regions serving under the mandates of the United Nations, NATO and other international frameworks, earning recognition for professionalism and impartiality.
“Having extensive experience in the establishment and preservation of peace, the Turkish Armed Forces stand ready for any duty to be assigned,” Defense Ministry officials reiterated several times.
Hüseyin Fazla, founder and director of STRASAM and a retired air force brigadier general, noted that: “Türkiye has expanded the profile of the TSK in peacekeeping and stabilization missions. In overseas deployments under NATO, including KFOR in Kosovo, the European Union’s EUFOR mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and United Nations mandates, Turkish forces have operated with increased situational awareness and modern armored vehicles such as the Kirpi and Vuran, enhancing both security and effectiveness in the field.”
Türkiye’s participation in peace support operations dates back to the Korean War in 1950 and has continued in various forms since. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkish forces were deployed in 1994 under U.N. command and later continued their mission under NATO following the Dayton Peace Agreement. Turkish units were tasked with securing safe areas, supporting humanitarian efforts and helping maintain neutrality among Serb, Bosnian and Croat communities.
In Kosovo, Türkiye has participated in the NATO-led KFOR mission since 1999 under a U.N. Security Council mandate. Turkish forces have supported efforts to establish and maintain a safe and secure environment while also providing training assistance to Kosovo security structures.
While arguing the impacts of strong army capabilities, Gökçe also pointed out that “Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that tariffs would be increased on countries purchasing natural gas from Russia, Türkiye has faced no direct countermeasures for maintaining its energy ties with Moscow, which supplies more than 40% of its natural gas needs, and for remaining the only NATO member not to impose sanctions on Russia — a position in part to Ankara’s military strength and broader foreign policy leverage.”
Moreover, Fazla said: “In addition, the operational gains the Turkish Armed Forces have accumulated in overseas missions including cross-border operations in Syria and Iraq as part of counterterrorism efforts amount to a valuable reservoir of ‘know-how’ for allied countries, he said, the expanding body of experience and capabilities has positioned the military not only as a fighting force but increasingly as a center of excellence, with NATO allies turning to it for consultation.
“The adoption of Turkish military doctrine and equipment by foreign personnel trained by the TSK is viewed as playing a critical role in establishing long-term strategic ties between Türkiye and those nations,” he asserted, underlining that Turkish military deployments in Somalia and Qatar, along with advisory activities in Libya, contributed to the reshaping of those countries’ defense architectures.
In Libya, Türkiye has provided training and advisory support to forces aligned with the country’s internationally recognized government. The Turkish Parliament in December 2025 extended the mandate authorizing the deployment of Turkish troops in Libya for an additional two years. Ankara says its presence is based on formal agreements with Libyan authorities and aims to contribute to stability and institutional restructuring.
On the other hand, Fazla also drew attention to the soft power through military channels, noting that at Türkiye’s largest overseas military base, TURKSOM, Somali forces’ elite “Gorgor” commando units have been trained to combat the al-Shabab militant group, while Somali officers and noncommissioned officers receive instruction in Turkish and are educated in line with Turkish military doctrine.
“This process lays the groundwork for a decadeslong alignment in strategic thinking between the Somali Armed Forces’ command structure and the Turkish military, he asserted.
Remarking on the modernization of the defense industry and the correlation between operational and political aims, Fazla indicated that the Turkish navy’s presence on the high seas, including counterpiracy operations off the coast of Somalia and escort missions for seismic research vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean, has enabled Ankara to safeguard its maritime interests not only through diplomatic démarches but through a tangible operational presence.
According to Fazla, “Türkiye’s deployment of an air defense umbrella around Tripoli and the strategic al-Watiya Air Base in Libya was widely described as a landmark demonstration of capability, marking the first time a NATO army established a layered air defense network in the field against Russian- and Chinese-origin aerial platforms, a move that drew attention from allied capitals.”
“Rather than merely showing the flag, Turkish forces now deploy to shape regional dynamics, train and in many cases help restructure host nation militaries, and actively demonstrate domestically produced defense systems in the field,” he concluded.
In addition to ongoing missions in multiple regions, Türkiye has also conducted numerous cross-border operations against the PKK terrorist group and its Syrian branch, the YPG.
The cross-border operations conducted with Iraq’s consent, while others have been justified under the right of hot pursuit and self-defense, including within the framework of a 1984 bilateral security agreement. Since the early 1990s, Ankara has launched a series of operations in northern Iraq – from Operation Steel and Operation Sun to the ongoing Claw operations that began in 2018.
Cross-border campaigns later expanded into northern Syria, including Operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring and Spring Shield between 2015 and 2020.
Following Türkiye’s operations in Syria, the country has started a historic opportunity after the fall of the Assad regime with the new government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Ankara has campaigned for the removal of terrorist groups from its southern border for a long time, accusing foreign powers of giving them room in Syria.
Most recently, NATO stages its biggest exercise this year in Germany, with some 10,000 personnel from 11 countries. Türkiye, which has the defense body’s second-largest army, dispatched 2,000 personnel for Steadfast Dart 2026, which began last week. The exercise, which will continue until Feb. 20, aims to showcase NATO’s ability to deploy rapidly and conduct complex operations, the body said in a statement earlier this month.
It is the first time that Türkiye sent so many troops to Northern Europe, though the country is a major component of NATO at a time of heightened defense worries in Europe.
Bulgaria’s former Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said strengthening ties with Türkiye is strategically vital for regional peace and stability.
“Nowadays, the world is eager for peace. For us, the partnership with Türkiye is extremely important … of establishing peace,” he told Anadolu Agency (AA).
He noted that both countries are engaged in diplomatic initiatives tied to the Middle East.
“So I think that with Türkiye, we are a very good example of how the partnership between neighboring countries can facilitate and promote the peace process in the world,” he added.
‘Two-speed’ EU not a threat to European integrity
Addressing discussions around a “two-speed” Europe, he said the initiative has largely been misunderstood and relates mainly to capital market integration rather than political divisions within the bloc.
European leaders proposed a “two-speed union” as the quickest way to overcome the political deadlock blocking key economic reforms aimed at reviving the European economy.
“This initiative, I think that, is not very well understood,” he said, explaining that countries ready to participate in simplifying and enlarging capital markets could move ahead, while others could join later.
He stressed that participation depends on readiness, not differences between member states, adding that the approach “is a very particular issue that would not bother the European integrity and the European Union at home.”
Turning to the Middle East, Zhelyazkov said Bulgaria maintains relations with both Israel and Palestine and believes balanced engagement can help ease tensions.
“Both states are very important to … mitigate all hostile narratives that exist because we need to establish peace and to promote the peace,” he said.
Türkiye on Wednesday strongly rejected “baseless allegations” contained in resolutions adopted by the European Parliament, criticizing the move as misguided and harmful to efforts aimed at improving Türkiye-EU relations.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said it categorically rejected claims targeting Türkiye in resolutions passed on Feb. 12, including one addressing the situation in northeast Syria.
The ministry said the resolution on Syria disregards Türkiye’s role in supporting the country’s recovery and stabilization, urging the European Parliament to better understand the realities on the ground and the aspirations of the Syrian people instead of adopting what it called ill-intentioned positions.
Ankara also dismissed allegations concerning freedom of expression and religion raised in a separate resolution titled “Targeted expulsions of foreign journalists and foreign Christians in Türkiye,” saying the claims contradict the facts.
The ministry stressed that no foreign institution, including the European Parliament, has the authority to interfere in judicial proceedings conducted in Türkiye.
The statement further warned that such resolutions undermine the spirit of ongoing efforts to enhance ties between Ankara and Brussels.
Calling for a more constructive approach, the Foreign Ministry urged the European Parliament to contribute positively to Türkiye-EU relations rather than being “instrumentalized” against Türkiye or attempting to interfere in its internal affairs.
Malaysia’s ambassador to Ankara, Sazali Bin Mustafa Kemal, said relations between Malaysia and Türkiye are at their highest point in history, highlighting deepened strategic cooperation and the two countries’ joint role in advancing regional stability and global peace.
As his term in Türkiye came to an end, Sazali visited the streets around Ankara Castle with his wife and spoke to Anadolu Agency (AA) about bilateral relations and his experiences in the country.
Having served in the Turkish capital for about five and a half years, Sazali said he felt at home in the city from the very beginning and described it as a place rich in history.
Recalling the moment he presented his letter of credence to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Sazali said the president first mentioned his name and asked whether he had any connection with Türkiye due to sharing the name Mustafa Kemal.
He said this was very meaningful for him and felt like an advantage to carry the same name as such a distinguished historical figure, noting that it is a common name in Malaysia.
He also said Ankara holds a special place in his life because he arrived in Türkiye single and later got married in the country, which made his time there unforgettable.
The official praised Türkiye’s deep historical heritage and highlighted Turkish cuisine as one of the country’s most valuable cultural elements, noting that it brings together flavors from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
He said Iskender is his favorite dish and that, despite health limitations, he always tries to eat Iskender in Bursa.
He said he visited many parts of Türkiye, naming Istanbul as his favorite city due to the Bosporus and the sea.
He added that he frequently visited Cappadocia and enjoyed its landscape, and that visiting Mount Nemrut made him feel as if he were traveling through history.
Sazali said he tried to learn Turkish but found that the language requires significant concentration.
He added that his favorite Turkish word is “arkadaşlar” (“friends”), because whenever he remembers the word, he thinks of the Turkish people and their warmth.
He also spoke about “Visit Malaysia 2026,” inviting Turkish families to explore the country and noting that Malaysia offers a wide range of attractions.
Referring to martial arts, he said he holds a black belt in taekwondo and highlighted Malaysia’s traditional martial art Silat, expressing confidence that Turkish people would appreciate it.
Bilateral relations
On bilateral ties, Sazali emphasized that relations between Malaysia and Türkiye have always been long-standing and diplomatic, with people-to-people ties predating the official establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964.
He said the relationship has seen tremendous development and that at present ties are at an excellent level.
He noted that relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 and that high-level visits between the two countries have strengthened cooperation in regional and global matters.
Referring to the Palestinian issue, Sazali said Malaysia and Türkiye consult each other regularly and move in coordination.
He added that by acting together, the two countries play a significant role in promoting regional stability, world security and international peace.
He underlined the importance of people-to-people contacts, noting that around 100,000 Malaysians visited Türkiye in 2025, while about 31,000 Turkish citizens visit Malaysia annually.
The diplomat also pointed out that Malaysia can learn from Türkiye in areas such as defense, development and engineering, while Türkiye can benefit from Malaysia’s experience in the semiconductor industry.
He added that Malaysia supports Türkiye’s efforts to become a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highlighted Türkiye’s experience in diplomacy, defense, international relations and security, saying that Ankara has often been at the forefront in encouraging mediation and negotiation in resolving international conflicts and crises.
Turkish authorities detained 93 tax inspectors in raids across 11 provinces as part of an investigation into the Gülenist Terrorist Group (FETÖ), prosecutors said Friday.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the operation was carried out under the direction of its Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, with police counterterrorism units conducting coordinated raids targeting suspects accused of involvement in the group’s activities.
According to a statement from prosecutors, investigators determined that the suspects used pay phones and a prepaid card-based communication system allegedly employed by the organization as a covert method of communication.
Authorities said statements from informants indicated that the suspects had taken part in the group’s activities. The investigation targeted 94 tax inspectors, including both active personnel within the Treasury and Finance Ministry and others previously dismissed from public service.
Police detained 93 suspects during the operation, while one individual was found to be abroad, the statement said.
The terrorist group orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 were wounded. Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
Türkiye has targeted its active members and sleeper cells nonstop, and its influence has been much reduced since 2016. However, the group maintains a vast network, including infiltrators suspected to be still operating within Turkish institutions.
FETÖ backers in army ranks and civil institutions have disguised their loyalty, as operations and investigations have indicated since the 2016 coup attempt. FETÖ is also implicated in a string of cases related to its alleged plots to imprison its critics, money laundering, fraud and forgery.
The terrorist group faces operations almost daily as investigators still try to unravel their massive network of infiltrators everywhere. In 2024 alone, police apprehended hundreds of FETÖ suspects across the country, including fugitives on western borders trying to flee to Europe.
Those apprehended were mostly low-ranking members of the group, as high-ranking members managed to flee the country before and immediately after the coup attempt.
Still, security forces occasionally capture key figures of the group who managed to remain in hiding, such as Cihat Yıldız. Yıldız, accused of helping the escape of Adil Öksüz, the civilian mastermind of the 2016 coup attempt, was captured during a police check in August in Istanbul.
Turkish security sources also say the group is in turmoil after the death of its leader, Fetullah Gülen, in October 2024.
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