Turkey prepared for possible fight with YPG in Syria

Set amid an increasingly violent environment of confrontation between Syrian Kurds and the Turkish government, Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan has been upping the rhetoric against his Kurdish enemies in Syria, much to the delight of his political base at home. Speaking at a rally over the weekend, Erdogan said “We will take important steps to […]

Germany pulls the plug on troops in Turkey

Germany has followed through on threats to withdraw its military forces from Incirlik Air Base in Turkey after months of diplomatic tensions with the Turkish government. The forces in question composed Germany’s contribution to the coalition against ISIS, and will remain out of the fight for at least another two months as they are moved […]

U.S. envoy visits Syria to talk post-Raqqa plans

The U.S. special envoy to the coalition against the Islamic State on Wednesday met with leaders of a council consisting of members from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who plan on administering the Syrian city of Raqqa following the eventual collapse of the ISIS stronghold. Brett McGurk, who was appointed by the State Department has […]

Turkey condemns U.S. over ‘aggressive’ acts against Erdogan’s guards during D.C. visit

ISTANBUL — Turkey’s Foreign Ministry lodged a formal protest Monday with the U.S. ambassador over “aggressive” actions by American security personnel during a visit to Washington last week by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was marred by a violent  clash between Turkish guards and protesters. The summoning of the ambassador, John Bass, sharply escalated a […]

Turkish newspaper demands the withdrawal of US Forces from Incirlik Air Base

A prominent newspaper in Turkey is demanding that US personnel and aircraft be evicted from Incirlik Air Base. The tensions between the US and Turkey went up dramatically after the Trump administration decided to send weapons to the Kurdish militia to support their efforts fighting ISIS.  In a front-page editorial published Friday, the newspaper Sozcu called […]

Arming Kurds in Syria looms over Trump-Erdogan meeting in White House

President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House today, a highly-anticipated meeting between the two leaders of a critical relationship in the Global War on Terror that has been hindered lately by policy decisions from both countries. Certain to be at the top of the list for […]

Turkey warns U.S. of blowback from decision to arm Kurdish fighters in Syria

Turkey warned the United States on Wednesday that a decision to arm Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State in Syria could end up hurting Washington, and accused its NATO ally of siding with terrorists. The rebuke came a week before President Tayyip Erdogan is due in Washington for his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, […]

Turkey says detains 1,000 ‘secret imams’ in police purge

Turkish authorities said they had arrested more than a thousand “secret Imams” who had infiltrated police forces on behalf of a U.S.-based cleric accused by President Tayyip Erdogan of trying to topple him last July. The nationwide sweep was one of the largest operations in months against suspected supporters of the cleric, Fethullah Gulen, a […]

Turkey’s Erdogan renews war of words, blames Dutch peacekeepers for Srebrenica massacre

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday directed fresh verbal attacks at the Netherlands amid their growing diplomatic spat, holding the country responsible for Europe’s worst mass killing since World War II. In a televised speech, Erdogan referred to the massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, eastern Bosnia, […]

Welcome to Raqqa, a photo-essay from the frontlines

Today I want to introduce my friend Joey L. to SOFREP readers.  Joey is an accomplished professional photographer who I traveled to Damascus, Syria with last year.  He has also made several trips to Iraq and Kurdish held northern Syria.  This report details his last trip to Syria a few months ago and helps set […]

Turkey’s Erdogan Approves Referendum on Presidential Power

ISTANBUL—President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave official approval for a national vote on changes to Turkey’s constitution that would concentrate authority in his office. His signing of a referendum bill on Friday set the stage for a public showdown between a leader who has steadily sought more power and detractors who say to give it to […]