Saudi Arabia intercepts drone over Riyadh amid rising Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Türkiye will provide Syria with weapons systems, logistics and military training under a new cooperation deal aimed at bolstering Syrian state forces and territorial integrity, a Turkish Defence Ministry source said on Thursday.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday following months of negotiation, marks the first formal military cooperation between Ankara and Damascus since the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
The memorandum of understanding was finalised during high-level meetings involving foreign and defence ministers as well as intelligence officials from both countries. It provides for the coordination of military planning, procurement of equipment, and, where necessary, Turkish-led training of Syrian troops.
“The memorandum aims to coordinate, plan military training and cooperation, provide consultancy, information and experience sharing, ensure the procurement of military equipment, weapon systems, logistical materials and related services,” a Turkish Defence Ministry source told reporters on Thursday.
The deal underscores Türkiye’s growing role in Syria following the power vacuum left by Assad’s fall and comes amid renewed tensions with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the U.S.
Ankara has expressed frustration over the SDF’s failure to implement a March agreement with Damascus, which was intended to integrate the group into Syrian state structures. The SDF’s recent clashes with government forces and a political conference calling for constitutional reforms have been cited by Türkiye as threats to Syria’s territorial unity.
“The SDF has not met any of the conditions of the March deal,” the Turkish source said. “Our expectation is full compliance with the agreement that was signed and its urgent implementation in the field.”
Türkiye has previously carried out cross-border military operations against the SDF, which it designates a terrorist organisation due to its links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The accord comes as Türkiye reiterates its support for rebuilding Syria’s armed forces and public institutions, as well as reinforcing the country’s borders amid ongoing instability in the region.
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. No casualties were reported.
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public records, a Kabul Institute report released on 22 October said. The United Nations says its oversight systems ensure accountability.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment