US House Officially Recognizes Armenian Genocide
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to officially recognize the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
Turkey
Anti-IS coalition to meet in Washington on November 14, US says
More than 30 nations fighting the Islamic State group will gather in Washington on November 14 in a French-initiated meeting as the United States pulls troops from Syria, a US official said Monday.
US still pressing Turkey to nix Russian missile purchase, official says
The United States is still in talks with Turkey to get Ankara to ‘walk away’ from the Russian missile defense system it bought, a senior State Department official said on Friday, but warned Turkey that the risk of sanctions over the issue persisted.
Trump Lifts US Sanctions on Turkey, Says Ceasefire Northeastern Syria Permanent
President Donald Trump says a U.S. brokered ceasefire in Turkey’s assault on Kurds in northeastern Syria has become permanent and Washington is lifting sanctions imposed on Ankara.
‘We do not know where they are’: More than 100 ISIS prisoners missing in Syria
More than 100 Islamic State prisoners have gone missing since Turkey invaded Syria, and the State Department doesn’t know where they are, the department’s anti-ISIS chief said today.
Despite setback, Kurds appear ready for Washington-Moscow spotlight
Syrian Kurdish leader General Mazlum Kobani was on the phone with the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and got support from Washington on Wednesday, two weeks after it seemed his Syrian Democratic Forces were on the ropes against Turkey.
Russia, Turkey reach deal to remove Kurdish YPG from Syria border
Syrian and Russian forces will deploy in northeast Syria to remove Kurdish YPG fighters and their weapons from the border with Turkey under a deal agreed on Tuesday which both Moscow and Ankara hailed as a triumph.
Turkey Says ‘No Need’ to Resume Offensive Against Kurds
Turkey says there is ‘no need’ to resume its military offensive against Syrian Kurds, saying the U.S. has told it that the Kurdish withdrawal from the northern Syrian border is complete.
‘There Won’t be Christians Left’: Syrian Christians Fear Grim Future in Shadow of Turkey’s Invasion
A spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) says they have completely evacuated fighters from a besieged Syrian border town per the US and Turkish cease-fire.
Turkey’s Erdogan Visits Putin For Syria Talks As U.S.-Brokered Cease-Fire Is Set To Expire
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 22 will hold discussions with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on developments in northeastern Syria, where Turkey has launched an offensive against Kurdish forces.
Germany Pitches Internationally-Controlled ‘Security Zone’ in Northern Syria
Germany should leverage its U.N. Security Council membership to push for an ‘internationally-controlled security zone’ in Syria, the country’s defense minister said on Monday.
Trump ‘fully prepared’ to use military force against Turkey to protect Kurds in Syria
Donald Trump is ‘fully prepared’ to use military force if ‘needed’ against Turkey after Ankara launched an offensive against America’s allies in Syria.
Hosting Pompeo amid concerns about policy in Syria, PM hails US-Israel alliance
Hosting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday as President Donald Trump’s policy changes on Syria spark concern among Israelis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Pompeo and Trump for their ‘consistent support for Israel’ and hailed the strength of US-Israel ties. Commenting on the US-arranged ceasefire in Turkey’s offensive in Syria against Kurdish fighters, the prime minister said mildly that he hoped it would ‘turn out for the best.’
Erdogan to discuss Syrian deployment in ‘safe zone’ with Putin next week
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he would discuss the deployment of Syrian government forces in a planned ‘safe zone’ in northern Syria during talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin next week, but warned Ankara would ‘implement its own plans’ if a solution was not reached.
Kurdish military leader says his fighters still want to work with US, accuses Turkey of ‘violating’ cease-fire, ‘ethnic cleansing’
The Kurdish military leader who serves as commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces revealed to Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin in a telephone interview Sunday from his base inside Syria that Turkey’s military has ‘violated’ the planned cease-fire and was continuing to commit ‘ethnic cleansing.’
Syria critic Lindsey Graham reverses stance, says Trump’s policy could succeed
Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been one of the most vocal critics of President Donald Trump’s decision to move U.S. troops out of northeastern Syria, said on Sunday he now believed ‘historic solutions’ were possible.
Iran rejects Turkey’s establishing of military posts in Syria
Iran rejects Turkey’s establishing of military posts inside Syria, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday, adding that the integrity of Tehran’s key regional ally should be respected.
Pence says Erdogan knows Trump ‘says what he means’ after Syria cease-fire
Vice President Mike Pence told Fox News in an exclusive interview Thursday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ‘knows President Trump says what he means what he says’ about Trump’s threat to slap sanctions on Turkey if its military defies the terms of a cease-fire meant to halt Ankara’s offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
Pompeo lands in Israel for meet with Netanyahu, talks on Syria
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Israel overnight Thursday-Friday for talks on Syria following the pullout of American soldiers and Turkey’s launching of a military offensive against Kurdish fighters.
Pence Announces Ceasefire Deal With Erdogan to End Turkey’s Syria Offensive
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday he had reached a deal with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan for a ceasefire in northern Syria to end an eight-day-old Turkish offensive against Kurdish-led forces.