Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler has warned that the ongoing regional conflict could escalate further, describing the Iran–U.S. ceasefire as “fragile.”
Güler made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing Turkish military personnel deployed in Qatar as part of the Türkiye-Qatar Joint Force Command.
“The risk of war spreading in our region still exists,” he said in remarks cited by local media.
“Fragile as it may be, we value the announced ceasefire and wish for it to become permanent for the sake of ensuring regional security and economic stability,” Güler added.
Türkiye, he said, “pursues an approach that prioritizes peace, reduces tensions, and supports stability”.
“The duties performed by our units here [in Qatar] reflect this strategic approach on the ground,” the defence chief added.
He also praised what he described as Doha’s “determined and reasonable stance” during the weeks-long regional conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States, which is now in its second month.
On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Ankara was working to extend the shaky two-week ceasefire, which initially came into effect on 8 April.
Speaking to lawmakers, Erdoğan said the “window of opportunity” created by the truce should be seized, also warning that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon were harming prospects for peace.
In 2015, Türkiye established a Land Forces Command in Qatar, with which it maintains close political and economic relations.
This was followed two years later by the establishment of the Türkiye–Qatar Joint Force Command in Doha.
In 2024, Türkiye also established naval and air commands in Qatar with the aim of contributing to the latter’s security and expanding its own military footprint in the region.
Addressing troops deployed in Doha, Güler said the objective of the Turkish military presence in Qatar was a “stronger Türkiye in the region and world and a more effective Turkish armed forces.”
During his visit to the small Persian Gulf country, Güler also met Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with whom he discussed regional developments.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior ...
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at a...
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham "will always put Britain's interests first", he told the BBC in an interview when asked whether he was willi...
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 25th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto recently offered the dismissed Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Mykhailo Federov an adviser role in Italy.
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the West Bank early on Sunday, setting fire to two mosques and scrawling graffiti on buildings, Palestinian officials said.
A new state agency wants the world to take Georgian food as seriously as Georgians already do.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have signed regional and commercial agreements worth more than 80 billion tenge ($146 million). The deals aim to expand cooperation between the two Central Asian neighbors in trade, transport, industry and cross-border development.
UN Secretary General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for the first trip to Syria by a serving United Nations' chief since 2009, before the start of a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
More than 100 Afghan business representatives travelled to Uzbekistan this week for a business forum aimed at expanding trade and investment, as Uzbek investors also expressed interest in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment