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.
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U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
While addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Washington and Tehran will reach a deal after the U.S. midterm elections.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York that he described as “very good” and “productive”, with another round of talks scheduled soon.
Saudi Arabia has restarted its East-West oil pipeline, bringing back an important route for moving crude from the kingdom’s oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
Greenland's government and residents have welcomed a new defence agreement with the U.S. and Denmark that allows Washington to expand its military presence on the Arctic island, although concerns over U.S. intentions remain.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed “significant progress” in discussions on strategic investment projects on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Seoul's presidential office said on Wednesday.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 23 September 2026, featuring five key highlights from the first day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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