January 2016
Israeli Defense Minister: ISIS is Funded by Oil Sales to Turkey
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon accused Turkey of financing ISIS through oil sales. This accusation could strain the recently improving relations between Turkey and Israel,…
Rafsanjani's Defense of People's Rights: What Motivates It?
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has publicly called for free elections and freedom of expression, opposing repression and criticizing hardliners. His statements position him as a political…
Lavrov: Neither Assad asked us for asylum nor did we make such a request
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied that Moscow requested Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down or seek asylum in Russia. He emphasized the importance…
Brands and Smuggling: The Cause of the Crisis in Iran's Apparel Industry
Iran's apparel industry is in crisis due to increased smuggling and competition from international brands following the lifting of sanctions. The industry is struggling to…
Biden Emphasizes Intensified Efforts to Push Back ISIS from the Turkish Border
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden announced a joint effort with Turkey to combat ISIS along the Turkish-Syrian border, emphasizing military options if peace talks fail.…
Joe Biden Criticizes Freedom of Speech Situation in Turkey
Joe Biden criticized Turkey for its poor record on freedom of speech during a visit to Istanbul, highlighting the detention of journalists and academics. He…
Arrest of 12 Academic Figures in Turkey Following Signature of a Statement
Turkish police arrested 12 academics from Kocaeli University for signing a statement against military operations against Kurdish rebels. The statement, which has over a thousand…
At least five killed in attack on police station in Turkey
A car bomb exploded at a police station in Diyarbakir, Turkey, killing at least five and injuring 39, with reports indicating that the PKK is…
Turkey Arrests 68 on Suspicion of Planning Further Attacks
Following a deadly suicide bombing in Istanbul, Turkish security forces arrested 68 individuals suspected of ISIS affiliation. The arrests were made across several cities, with…
Erdogan Condemns Suicide Bombing 'by Syrian National'
A suicide bombing in Istanbul's tourist district has resulted in at least 10 deaths and 15 injuries, with the attacker identified as a Syrian national.…
The Middle East in the Past Year; Syria
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has resulted in over 250,000 deaths and millions of refugees. In 2015, the conflict intensified with the…
Turkish Presidential Office: Erdogan Did Not Praise Hitler's Regime
The Turkish Presidential Office clarified that President Erdogan's comments about Hitler's regime were misinterpreted and not intended as praise. Erdogan is advocating for a shift…