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Turkey

Turkey

May 9, 2026

Ankara 2:54 pm

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MURAT KOCABAS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Culture

How ‘dog mom’ vacuum cleaner ad sparked culture war in Turkey

A Mother’s Day advertisement featuring a “dog mom” triggered a backlash from conservative media, government officials and regulators, turning a soft consumer campaign into a flashpoint over motherhood, declining birth rates, stray dogs and even antisemitism.

People look at a drone on display at the Baykar exhibit at the SAHA International Defence and Aerospace Expo on May 06, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey, Japan launch defense industry partnership with eye on drones

The initiative could eventually lead to joint UAV development and production as Japan looks to expand drone capabilities amid regional tensions.

Latest News

Saudi FM in Turkey as Ankara, Riyadh step up coordination amid Iran war

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, May 6, 2026.

Turkey, Armenia agree to restore medieval bridge in normalization push

A picture taken near Kars on Feb. 28, 2024 shows the ruins of a bridge over Arpacay river, the natural border between Turkey and Armenia.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

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

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Kurdish people carry flags as they celebrate the spring festival of Nowruz, in al-Darbasiyah town, on the Syrian-Turkish border, Syria March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RC1F25CCC510

Intel: Turkey’s invasion of northeast Syria spurs Kurdish unity

Buckling to popular and US pressure, the main Syrian Kurdish opposition umbrella group known as the Kurdish National Council has agreed to reopen its offices in northeastern Syria.

Will developments in Idlib force Ankara to turn to the West again?

Analysts say Turkey and Russia were always on a collision course in Syria due to their radically differing positions.

Escalation in Syria and Libya tests limits of Erdogan-Putin ties

The recent escalation in Libya and Syria has put on display the limits of the relationship between the Turkish and Russian presidents.

This picture taken on February 3, 2020 shows smoke plumes billowing in the Syrian village of al-Nayrab, about 14 kilometres southeast of the city of Idlib in the northwestern Idlib province, during bombardment by Syrian government forces and its allies. (Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP) (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

What brought Iranian forces to Idlib front?

A number of developments, including Turkey's greater involvement in Syria and the US assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, may be driving Iran's move to get more involved in Idlib battlefield operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan pose with documents during a signing ceremony ahead of a joint news conference following their meeting at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kiev, Ukraine February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich - RC23TE9JIMSX

Intel: Erdogan accuses Russia of 'negligence' while signing military aid deal with Ukraine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Ukraine today to sign a deal providing the Ukrainian army with assistance funding, amid mounting tensions in Turkish-Russian relations following the death of at least eight Turks in Idlib during an exchange of fire with Russian-backed Syrian regime forces.

Turkish soldiers stand on top of tanks near the Turkish-Syrian border in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 15, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC163A321330

Turkey says dozens killed in clashes with Syrian troops

Turkey shelled some 50 Syrian government targets after its soldiers came under attack in Idlib province in fighting that threatens to drag Turkey deeper into the prolonged conflict and undermine its relations with Russia.

Syrian mercenaries fight Turkey’s battles in Libya

Though the Free Syrian Army denies it has sent fighters to Libya, hundreds of Syrian fighters are now in Libya after being lured by high salaries.

Turkish-Russian alignment in Syria faces moment of truth

The escalating offensives of Russian-backed regime forces in Idlib are changing the military picture in the whole of northwestern Syria, putting Russian-Turkish ties to a serious test.

A Syrian army soldier gestures in Maarat al-Numan, Syria, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Yamam Al Shaar - RC2GQE9GEP2D

Putin’s thin red lines in Syria rattle Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan still has limited options in the wake of Syria's retaking of a key town in Idlib province.

Syrian army soldiers gesture on the highway outside Maarat al-Numan, Syria, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki - RC2GQE9KJ096

Turkey's hands tied as Syrian army makes gains in Idlib

Behind its strong condemnations, Turkey is quietly accepting the new status quo in and around Idlib.

Intel: Will Russia, Turkey de-escalate tensions over Syria’s Idlib?

The Kremlin has fired back at Turkey’s complaints that Moscow is violating its commitments in the northeastern Syrian province of Idlib.

Turkey expands gas exploration efforts to Libya’s offshore waters

Turkey has moved to expand its gas exploration drive in the tension-ridden eastern Mediterranean since signing a maritime accord with Libya’s Tripoli-based government, but there are also signs that Ankara might seek to break its isolation in the region.