Iran, Turkey secretly sent emergency weapons to Kurds against ISIL

Iran, Turkey secretly sent emergency weapons to Kurds against ISIL

Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iran and Turkey quietly came to the aid of Kurdistan in the war against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani said neighboring states have sent weapons to help block the ISIL advance in September 2014. Barzani identified two of the suppliers as Iran and […]

Having nurtured ISIL, Turkey relishes the decimation of Kurdish Kobani

Having nurtured ISIL, Turkey relishes the decimation of Kurdish Kobani

Special to WorldTribune.com GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs Newly-elected Turkish President Reçep Tayyip Erdogan had, by Oct. 7, carefully re-started Turkey’s war inside Syria, to remove the government of President Bashar Assad, and had begun to draw the “old alliance” of the U.S. Obama White House, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia back into the Syrian war. President […]

Kurdish insurgents report growing ISIL presence in Istanbul, assassination of leader

Kurdish insurgents report growing ISIL presence in Istanbul, assassination of leader

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — The Kurdish Workers Party has reported an attack on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Turkey. The PKK said it attacked an ISIL leader in the Turkish city of Istanbul. In a statement, the youth wing of PKK said the ISIL operative, identified only as Hikmet, was killed. […]

Turkey building portable concrete wall at Syrian border

Turkey building portable concrete wall at Syrian border

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has been assembling a portable concrete wall along the border with Syria. Officials said the wall consisted of nine-ton concrete blocks designed for rapid transfer. They said the first phase of the project would span 1.2 kilometers. “The wall was designed to block smuggling routes,” an official said. Officials […]

Double cross: Kurdish insurgents return to Turkey reinforced with Syrian war veterans

Double cross: Kurdish insurgents return to Turkey reinforced with Syrian war veterans

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — The Kurdish Workers Party has revived its operational presence in Turkey despite the promise of reconciliation with the government. Officials said Turkey determined that PKK established cells in cities in the NATO member. The officials said PKK, bolstered by thousands of fighters from Iran, Iraq and Syria, was focused on […]

Pakistan and Central Asia greet stark 2012 landscape minus U.S. strategic dominance

Pakistan and Central Asia greet stark 2012 landscape minus U.S. strategic dominance

Special to WorldTribune.com Gregory Copley, Global Information System By the start of 2012, the U.S. had seen a precipitous decline in its real strategic dominance of the Arabian Peninsula, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf, and in its ability to reach and influence Central Asia. It had taken less than two decades for the […]

Turkey warns Syria’s Assad playing ‘dangerous game’ with Kurds

Turkey warns Syria’s Assad playing ‘dangerous game’ with Kurds

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has expressed concern that Syria is forging an alliance with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). Officials said Turkey’s military and intelligence community were closely monitoring signs for an alliance between Syrian President Bashar Assad and the PKK. They said Assad is believed to have been sending Kurdish insurgents to […]

Congress could block sale of Super Cobra attack helicopters to Turkey

Congress could block sale of Super Cobra attack helicopters to Turkey

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. Congress could hold up a plan to sell three advanced combat helicopters to Turkey. Congressional sources said House and Senate leaders have questioned a proposal by President Barack Obama to export three AH-1W attack helicopters to the Turkish military. They said Turkey’s Islamist government has sought the new […]