Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday amid growing regional cooperation and the removal of Western sanctions on Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on Saturday for high-level discussions, as both the United States and European Union officially ended years-long sanctions on Syria.
According to a statement from the Turkish Presidency on social media platform X, Erdogan expressed his approval of the policy shift, telling Sharaa that Ankara welcomed the decisions made by the US and EU.
The two leaders held a meeting at the Dolmabahce Palace after Sharaa's surprise visit, which marks a significant moment in the normalization of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Damascus. In recent months, Turkiye has become one of the main regional partners of the Syrian government following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The meeting was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and MIT intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Their Syrian counterparts participated in the discussions as well.
In parallel developments, US ambassador Tom Barrack has been appointed as Washington’s special envoy to Syria. The move is seen as a signal of American recognition of Turkiye’s growing influence over Syria’s future.
Earlier this week, Turkish and Syrian intelligence officials held talks on the future of the Kurdish YPG militia. Turkish sources indicated discussions focused on the disarmament of YPG fighters and their potential integration into Syrian security forces. Turkiye continues to regard the YPG as a terrorist group due to its links to the PKK, which recently announced its decision to disband.
With sanctions lifted and diplomatic meetings underway, Ankara is positioning itself as a key player in shaping post-conflict Syria and restoring regional stability.
More than 2 million Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their homes since December, according to the UN refugee agency, which emphasized the urgent need for a political resolution to prevent renewed instability.
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Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, has announced that Turkish low-cost carrier AJet will begin operating regular flights to Damascus later this month.
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President Donald Trump has said he will make a decision in the coming two weeks on whether the United States will strike Iran, citing a possibility of upcoming negotiations.
South Korea’s new administration proposed $14.7 billion in additional spending on Thursday to boost weak domestic demand, as President Lee Jae Myung pushes economic recovery as his top priority.
If the European Central Bank adjusts interest rates in the next six months, the move would likely be a cut, ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Thursday.
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Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
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President Donald Trump has said he will make a decision in the coming two weeks on whether the United States will strike Iran, citing a possibility of upcoming negotiations.
Iran's foreign minister is expected in Istanbul on Saturday for a key Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) council meeting as regional tensions rise over Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has temporarily barred its personnel from entering Al Udeid Air Base due to rising regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
The World Bank has approved a $640 million loan to Bangladesh to help improve gas supply security and reduce dangerous air pollution in urban areas.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Ukraine “will have to understand and accept” the post-war realities, as Moscow signals openness to a third round of peace negotiations with Kyiv.
On June 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in Türkiye for a working visit.
One of the region’s largest innovation events, “Baku ID-2025”, has officially kicked off in Baku. Organized by SABAH.HUB in partnership with government agencies and leading representatives of the private sector, this year’s festival is held under the theme “The Regional Nexus”.
President Donald Trump has said he will make a decision in the coming two weeks on whether the United States will strike Iran, citing a possibility of upcoming negotiations.
South Korea’s new administration proposed $14.7 billion in additional spending on Thursday to boost weak domestic demand, as President Lee Jae Myung pushes economic recovery as his top priority.
If the European Central Bank adjusts interest rates in the next six months, the move would likely be a cut, ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Thursday.
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