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Turkey

April 8, 2026

Ankara 5:02 pm

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Police officials stand among traffic as they patrol near the Israeli Consulate following a shootout between gunmen and police, Istanbul, Turkey, April 7, 2026.

One gunman killed during attack near Israel’s consulate in Istanbul

Three assailants opened fire outside Israel’s consulate in Istanbul, wounding two police officers before being "neutralized" by security forces, authorities said.

This handout photograph provided by the Turkish Foreign Ministry press service shows Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (L) meeting with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (R) in Damascus on Dec. 22, 2025.

Analysis

How the Iran war can help Syria manage Turkey and its regional rivals

Rising regional tensions and disrupted oil flows are giving Damascus leverage to balance Ankara and other neighbors while exploring alternative energy corridors.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A bulk carrier sits anchored at Sultan Qaboos Port on March 23, 2026 in Muscat, Oman.

Third Turkish ship clears Hormuz as Ankara presses Tehran on safe passage

Eight vessels are still waiting as Ankara negotiates with Tehran, which is allowing limited crossings.

Turkey's Camp TURKSOM, a Turkish military base south of Mogadishu, is seen from the window of an aircraft, on April 26, 2025, in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Analysis

Turkey’s expanding military role in Somalia draws scrutiny amid federal rift

Turkey’s expanding military footprint in Somalia is drawing criticism amid deepening federal-regional tensions, with Ankara denying it is taking sides.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Turkey in talks with Iran to clear 11 ships stuck in Hormuz: What to know

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Analysis

How the Iran war is giving Turkey's Erdogan a big boost

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on Jan. 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkey says NATO defenses intercepted fourth missile from Iran

German soldiers stand to attention in front of a German Patriot missile launcher at the Gazi barracks in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey on March 25, 2014.

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

Can US convince Turkey to undo 'done deal' with Russia?

Although there are some signs of warming between the United States and Turkey over the situation in northeast Syria, many in Ankara feel it is too little, too late.

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) sit in the bucket of an excavator in the village of Baghouz, Deir Al Zor province, Syria March 20, 2019. Picture taken March 20, 2019. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RC115D5A9480

Syrian Kurds fear US sellout to Turkey on ‘safe zone’

Zarif meets Assad and Erdogan; is Erdogan banking on Trump to avoid S-400 sanctions?

Russian S-400 air defence mobile missile launching system drive down Tverskaya Street during rehearsals for the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow, May 5, 2014. Russia celebrates victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor (RUSSIA - Tags: MILITARY ANNIVERSARY) - GM1EA560B2U01

Why Turkey’s reliance on Trump for S-400 sanctions waiver appears misguided

Turkey is counting on President Donald Trump to waive US sanctions if Turkey takes delivery of the Russian air defense system. But any possible leniency would face significant obstacles in Congress.

Foreign Ministers, Sergei Lavrov (C) of Russia, Mevlut Cavusoglu (L) of Turkey and Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, attend the international meeting on Syria in Astana, Kazakhstan March 16, 2018. REUTERS/Mukhtar Kholdorbekov - UP1EE3G0MWO1V

Iran moves to facilitate Turkey-Syria understanding ahead of Astana summit

The Iranian foreign minister’s recent trips to Damascus and Ankara suggest that Tehran is stepping up its efforts to facilitate and accelerate the political process to end the Syrian crisis.

Turkey's new Kurdish mayors denounce greed of predecessors

As Turkey's newly elected mayors take office, imagery of the outgoing administrations' waste and opulence is fueling an uproar about the ruling party's excesses.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (C) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (2L) give a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on April 17, 2019. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Iran sets up trade vehicle with Turkey as Saudi, UAE send flood aid

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said relations with Turkey are the best they’ve been in decades, while Rouhani struck a conciliatory tone amid Saudi and Emirati flood aid.

Poor services ignite protests in Suran and al-Bab

Poor basic services in some parts of Aleppo countryside have ignited protests in which people are demanding that local councils resign.

Newly elected Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) addresses his supporters after taking the office in Istanbul, Turkey, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir - RC125A53B110

Istanbul's new mayor pleads for unity as AKP seethes

Istanbul’s belatedly acknowledged Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu gave an all-embracing victory speech today as the ruling party's quest for an election redo continues.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R, front) and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan (L, front) attend a session of the Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council in Moscow, Russia April 8, 2019. Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC199AEEEE80

As Turkey drifts away from the US, will Russia give it what it wants?

Both Turkish and Russian analysts believe Putin has been successful in using President Erdogan to drive a wedge between NATO members.

Russian and Turkish delegations, led by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan, attend a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia April 8, 2019. Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC16BFAECE20

How Ankara’s anti-West attitude plays into Western hands

The Erdogan government is more determined than ever to purchase the S-400 missile systems from Russia, further eroding Turkey's standing as a Western ally.

Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak speaks during a presentation to announce his economic policy in Istanbul, Turkey August 10, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC1982EC7970

Turks look to Trump for way around ‘S-400 or F-35’ ultimatum

With Congress threatening sanctions if Turkey acquires the Russian S-400 and the Pentagon warning that Turkey could lock itself out of the F-35 fighter jet program, the Turkish president’s son-in-law took his case directly to President Donald Trump.

Sudan’s President Omer Al Bashir welcomes Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Khartoum Airport, Sudan December 24, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah - RC1EBBF69470

Erdogan claims Sudanese coup actually targeted Turkey

Now that the Sudanese military has ousted the president who ruled there for three decades, it will be interesting to see how the new administration will approach Omar al-Bashir's longtime friend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.