Analysis A surprise handshake in Turkey's parliament: Nationalist-Kurdish thaw or political maneuver? The escalating conflict in the region — among other considerations — has prompted unexpected handshakes between two foes in Turkey: pro-Kurdish DEM Party lawmakers and Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Interview Syrian-Kurdish KNC leader decries abuse by Turkey-backed Sunni factions in Afrin Kurdish National Council President Sleiman Oso told Al-Monitor that dialogue with his group's rivals, the PYD, is still possible. Sleiman Oso Kurdish National Council President
Turkish soldier killed in PKK clash in Iraqi Kurdistan as Baghdad presses Ankara to withdraw Recent civilian deaths have reignited calls from Iraqi officials for the withdrawal of thousands of Turkish troops deployed across Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey
Civilian toll rises in Turkey’s attacks against Kurdish militants in Iraq The recent spike in Turkish attacks comes at an especially critical time as Iraq's Kurdistan Region prepares to hold long-delayed parliamentary elections. Turkey
Analysis What Turkey's latest cruise missile means for defense industry, regional posture By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Turkey’s security pact with Iraq: Which side came out on top? By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Turkey raises stakes in Syria with shelling of Kurdish targets The Turkish military has fired on Syrian Kurdish positions east of the Euphrates River for the first time in a move that could heighten tensions with the United States. Syria
Afrin residents fear continued kidnappings Rogue members of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces are thought to be behind kidnappings of Afrin residents in exchange for money. Syria
Turkey extends flight ban to Sulaimaniyah Turkey seems to be expressing its opposition to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's candidate for the Iraqi presidency by extending its ban on flights to Sulaimaniyah, but the move may represent the extent of Ankara's influence over political machinations in Baghdad. Iraq
Putin grants Erdogan last chance to end Idlib quagmire on Turkey’s terms Erdogan saves face in Sochi; did Turkey and Syria collaborate to capture Reyhanli terrorist?; Erdogan, Ocalan and Syria. Syria
Fate of jailed Kurdish leader questioned as Turkey shuns peace As a showdown looms in Idlib between Syrian government forces and Turkish-backed opposition rebels, Ankara faces the prospect of further turmoil, while long-stalled Turkish-Kurdish talks seem unlikely to be revived nearly 20 years after Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan was jailed. Syria
Turkey pins hopes on cleric Sadr to form Iraqi government As Turkey waits to see which Iraqi political coalition comes up with the parliamentary majority necessary to install a new government, Ankara is rooting for the bloc of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, which it sees as most likely to minimize US and Iranian influence in the country. Iraq
PKK feels heat from Turkey as commanders fall Baris Oner — code-named Tarik the Turk — is the third high-profile member of the Kurdistan Workers Party to be targeted this month. Turkey
Ankara to continue targeted killings of PKK leaders abroad Turkey is encouraged by the success of its surgical airstrike in Iraq that killed outlawed Kurdish leader Ismail Ozden. Iraq
Kurds discouraged by hard-liners in Turkey's new Cabinet Turkey's new government looks too much like the old one to offer Kurds much hope for a peaceful political resolution. Turkey
Soldiers’ funerals become bone of contention between AKP, opposition Turkey's interior minister claims the main opposition party supports terrorism and bans its officials from the funerals of service members. Turkey
Turkey tries to legitimize incursion in northern Iraq As Turkey advances inside Iraqi territory to eliminate members of the Kurdistan Workers Party, Baghdad has openly rejected the action, though the Kurdistan Regional Government remains curiously silent. Iraq
Will Iraq's Qandil become Erdogan’s quagmire? Although Turkey's military excursion into northern Iraq could be an electoral stunt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an expanded operation into Qandil Mountains could become a quagmire for Erdogan and pose great risks for regional stability. Iraq