by WorldTribune Staff, November 6, 2016 Turkey plans to complete a 900-kilometer wall along its border with Syria by early 2017, the country’s defense minister said. “We plan to build a wall along our entire border with Syria,” Fikri Isik said on Nov. 2 during an inspection tour of military personnel and installations in the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs Significant, and largely-unnoticed, changes, with long-term consequences, were being made in U.S. military commitments in the Middle East as the U.S. political system was preoccupied with the Nov. 8, election process. Outgoing President Barack Obama had initiated processes to attempt to commit the U.S. to comprehensive military […]
by WorldTribune Staff, November 4, 2016 Iraq’s prime minister warned Turkey of a possible confrontation after Turkish tanks, artillery and troops were deployed near the Iraqi border. “We do not want war with Turkey, and we do not want a confrontation with Turkey,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Iraqi state TV on Nov. […]
by WorldTribune Staff, October 31, 2016 As the battle for Mosul looms, Middle East watchers are focused on the nearby town of Tal Afar, where Iran and Turkey are making a play for increased influence in northern Iraq. Iraqi Shi’ite militias, who are backed by Iran, on Oct. 29 began to move toward Tal Afar […]
by WorldTribune Staff, October 31, 2016 In the latest wave of purges after the July 15 coup attempt, Turkey has sacked 10,000 more civil servants and shut down 15 more media outlets. Ankara said those let go in the new round of dismissals are suspected to have links with terrorist organizations by which is meant […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty U.S. President Barack Obama has personally intervened in a dispute between Turkey and Iraq involving the battle against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, asking Turkey’s leader to coordinate his actions with both Washington and Baghdad. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to join the […]
by WorldTribune Staff, October 25, 2016 The United States is moving to calm tensions between Iraq and Turkey that were further inflamed on Oct. 23 when Turkish artillery hit Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) positions near Mosul. Baghdad considers Turkey’s presence on its soil a violation of sovereignty and has appealed to the […]
by WorldTribune Staff, October 24, 2016 The U.S. consulate in Istanbul has warned American citizens of the risk of “armed attacks” and “attempted kidnappings” by Islamist terror groups in the Turkish city. In a message issued on Oct. 22, the U.S. warned that jihadist groups were continuing their “aggressive efforts” to attack Americans in Istanbul. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi should “know his place” and added that a Turkish Army contingent in Iraq will not take orders from Baghdad. Erdogan told a group of Islamic leaders in Istanbul on Oct. 11 that Iraq had requested […]
by WorldTribune Staff, October 10, 2016 Turkey will have no role in the liberation of Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said. “Turkish forces will not be allowed to participate in the liberation of Mosul under any circumstances,” Abadi said during a visit to the city of Karbala […]
