Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — NATO has confirmed to Turkey that a ballistic missile defense radar won’t be used to protect Israel. NATO’s supreme commander Gen. Philip Breedlove said the Western alliance’s facility near the Turkish town of Kurecik would be reserved for European security. Breedlove dismissed assertions by the Turkish opposition that the U.S.-origin […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey, in the first such incident, has reported shooting down a Syrian military helicopter. Officials said the Turkish Air Force downed a Syrian military helicopter on Sept. 16 in Turkish air space. The officials said the Syrian Mi-17 helicopter ignored Turkish warnings to return to Syria. “It was continuously warned […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey, unable to halt anti-government protests, has threatened to deploy the Army to restore order. Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has examined the feasibility of deploying Turkey’s huge Army, the second largest in NATO, to quell nationwide protests. They said Turkish police, despite the arrest of […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — For the first time, longtime supporters of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan have joined anti-government protests in Turkey. Political sources and analysts have reported the increasing presence of voters of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, known as AKP, at anti-government rallies. They said both voters as well as Erdogan’s allies […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has assessed that Syrian President Bashar Assad ordered bombings in the NATO country. On May 11, at least 43 people were killed and 140 injured when two car bombs exploded in Reyhanli, a city of 60,000 near the Syrian border. Officials said the Assad regime was suspected of ordering […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — The Kurdish Workers Party has begun its withdrawal from Turkey. Officials said the PKK has been pulling out fighters from Turkey as part of a ceasefire agreement. “They [PKK] surely know the routes from which they have entered Turkey and can use the same routes to leave,” Turkish Prime Minister […]
Special to WorldTribune.com JERUSALEM — Israel has reported an agreement by Turkey to restore diplomatic relations. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israel reached a draft accord with Turkey to mend diplomatic ties. In a statement, the prime minister’s officer cited a breakthrough during negotiations with a visiting Turkish delegation on May […]