Turkish-Kurdish conflict

A picture taken on Oct. 17, 2017, shows excess flammable gasses burning from gas flares at the Havana oil field, west of the multiethnic northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

Exclusive

Iraq seeks more compensation from Turkey, 'blocks' reopening of Kurds' oil pipeline

Disputes over oil revenues and arbitration claims have kept the Kurdish pipeline closed.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

OVEMBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands during a press conference in the East Room of the White House on November 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. During their meeting, Trump and Erdogan were scheduled to discuss Turkey's purchase of a Russian air defense system as well as the Turkish offensive against the Kurds in Syria. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Analysis

Turkey sees opportunity with Trump to weaken Kurdish bloc, acquire F-35

During recent high-level talks held in Washington, both sides signaled their willingness to address some long-running issues — yet failed to address some of the biggest sticking points in US-Turkey relations.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Fidan Syria

Analysis

Turkey, alarmed by sectarian clashes, steps up Syria role, criticizes Iran

As last week’s bloody clashes in Syria have deepened divisions among Turkish experts over the country's future, Turkey’s priorities in Syria remain focused on countering the SDF and combating ISIS.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he addresses a speech during the Justice and Development Party (AKP), as part of the 8th Ordinary Grand Congress at the Ankara Arena in Ankara, on Feb. 23, 2025.

Turkey’s Erdogan says he's ready to meet with Kurds brokering peace with PKK

Erdogan's willingness to engage with Kurdish leaders signals a potential shift in Turkey's stalled peace process with the PKK after years of tension and setbacks.

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Analysis

Syria’s Kurds win big as Sharaa shakes hands with Kobane to save his own skin

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) and SDF leader Mazloum Kobane sign an agreement in Damascus on March 10, 2025.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkey’s defense chief says PKK ceasefire holds 'no significance'

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey accuses Israel of destabilizing region by driving wedge in Syria

Israeli tank enters Syria buffer zone

Analysis

Iran spooked by Turkey’s overtures to Kurds, rising role in Syria, Iraq

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) meets with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) in Tehran, on July 19, 2022.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Fidan and Araghchi

Iran, Turkey summon diplomats as tensions soar over Syria, Kurds: What to know

Turkish and Iranian tensions have intensified after the top Turkish diplomat criticized Tehran's use of proxy forces in an interview with Al-Jazeera Arabic last week.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint press conference with Syria's Foreign Minister during a joint press conference, in Ankara on January 15, 2025. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

In rare rebuke of Iran, Turkey's Fidan calls its proxy strategy 'heavy burden'

The top Turkish diplomat criticized Iran's regional strategy and warned against aligning with Kurdish-led forces in Syria.

Kurdish men holds up a flag with a picture of the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during Newroz celebrations, on March 21, 2015, in Diyarbakir, Turkey

PKK leader Ocalan set to make historic peace call between Turkey and the Kurds

A delegation is expected to relay the militant leader's statement on Thursday, Al-Monitor has learned.

AFP via Getty Images

One Turkish soldier, 17 PKK militants killed in northern Iraq clashes

The killing of the Turkish soldier comes ahead of militant leader Abdullah Ocalan’s expected call to disarm the Kurdistan Workers Party.

Ocalan

Iraqi Kurds lend hand as PKK leader negotiates plan for peace with Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan is expected to urge his men to lay down their arms and end a more than 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state, capping talks launched in April last year between the rebel leader, PKK commanders and the Turkish government.

Sharaa Kobane

Analysis

Squeezed between Turkey and Sharaa, Syria's Kurds face stark choices

Syria’s Kurds risk losing autonomy amid Turkish opposition and uncertain US backing.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A fighter of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) aims a machine gun while lying prone during a joint military exercise with forces of the US-led "Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve" coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group in the countryside of the town of al-Malikiya (Derik in Kurdish) in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on Sept. 7, 2022.

Turkey escalates push to replace Kurds as top anti-ISIS force in Syria

Turkey is attempting to form a new coalition to combat ISIS remnants and replace the Pentagon-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.

ZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey, Syria draft road map to strengthen Syrian military: What we know

Ankara and Damascus are working on a plan for defense cooperation, according to a Turkish official, who added that Turkey's priority in Syria is the armed groups it deems a national security threat.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands during a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on February 4, 2025.

Pomp over substance marks Sharaa's first trip to Turkey as Syria's president

While the Turkish president lauded the visit as "historic," little of substance was announced and neither leader made any mention of an alleged defense pact reported Tuesday by Reuters.

Ulas Tosun/Getty Images

Ocalan 'highly likely' to call for PKK disarmament: Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party

A much anticipated statement by jailed Kurdish militant Abdullah Ocalan will very likely include a call for the Kurdistan Workers Party to disarm, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition party has said.

TOPSHOT - Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa performs the Umrah, or the minor pilgrimage, in Islam's holiest city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia on February 3, 2025. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Erdogan to host Syria’s Sharaa on first Turkey visit, discuss security ties

The meeting between the Turkish president and Syria's new leader will focus on Syria's post-conflict reconstruction, economic recovery and security issues.

DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan (C) walks with party members and attendees during a rally organized by the pro-Kurdish Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party

PKK leader airs cautious optimism after talks with Turkey's pro-Kurdish party

The Kurdish militant leader expressed hope for a peaceful solution to the country’s 40-year armed conflict after four-hour talks with the pro-Kurdish party.