Russia
-
Iran, Turkey FMs discuss Ukraine crisis in phone call
Iran and Turkey foreign ministers discussed the latest developments in bilateral relations, as well as some regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the Ukraine crisis over the phone on Monday.
-
Turkey cannot abuse the Ukrainian case against Kurds: official
Even if Turkey receives the green light from Russia to attack northern Syria, it will not be able to launch an attack on Syrian Kurdistan without a US approval," said a representative of the Syrian Democratic Assembly in Iraqi Kurdistan.
-
Syrian soldiers killed and wounded in Damascus bus bombing
A Syrian army soldier was killed and 11 others were wounded when an explosive device planted in a military transport bus went off in Damascus on Tuesday, state media reported, quoting a military source.
-
Big-power rivalries deepen Syria’s fragmentation / Khaled Yacoub Oweis
When Farhad, a Syrian-Kurdish aid worker, tried to reach his Aleppo village this week to visit his mother, Turkish intelligence agents stopped and interrogated him.
-
Official predicts Turkey would withdraw it's affiliated militants from Syria
A member of the representative office of the Syrian self-ruling administration in Iraqi Kurdistan region said: "We anticipate that there will be an agreement so that Turkey would expel all militant militant groups under its command, especially those that have occupied part of Syrian Kurdistan, from Syria."
-
There is no clear prospect between us and Damascus, Syrian Kurdish party leader tells Kurdpress
The head of the Kurdish Democratic Day Party in Syria said: "We believe in dialogue on equal terms for the future of Syria with the central government, but at the moment there is no clear horizon between us and Damascus."
-
Mazlum Kobane says Russia opposes further Turkish land grabs
Mazlum Kobane, commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, also says Damascus is not yet ready for negotiations.
-
Afrin IDPs hold Moscow and Washington responsible for their protection
Suleiman Jaafar called on Moscow and Washington to play a humanitarian role in stopping Turkey's threats against northern Syria, as the region faces a humanitarian catastrophe and the killing of civilians in the event of a new attack.
-
Turkey making preparations for Syria operation, says official
A senior Turkish security official told Reuters that Turkey was making “preparations” to launch a new offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria.
-
Turkey blames US and Russia, says Ankara would take matters into own hands in Syria
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday Turkey would “do what is necessary for its security” after what it said was a rise in cross-border attacks by People’s Protection Units (YPG).
-
After Jordan, will Turkey take the plunge with Assad? / Amberin Zaman
After the Jordanian king spoke by phone with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the first time since the Syrian conflict began over 10 years ago, Turks are now asking if Ankara will be next to reconcile.
-
Moscow does not believe in resolving Kurdish issue in Syria: official
Russia is only looking for its own interests and does not believe in resolving the political issue in Syria," said the head of the public relations office of the Syrian Kurdistan Future Movement.
-
Syria Kurdistan delegation will travel to Washington after Moscow: official
A member of the delegation of the North and East Syrian Autonomous Administration in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region stated that the visit of the delegation to Moscow and Washington sends a message to the international community that only two forces, the administration and the Syrian central government, will resolve the Syrian political crisis.
-
Turkish attacks on Syrian Kurds were discussed during Ilham Ehmed's visit to Moscow
Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) head Ilham Ehmed raised the issue of Turkish attacks in northern Syria during a visit to Russia, as well as asked Moscow to facilitate a meeting with the Syrian leadership, SDC representative in the US, Bassam Saker, told Sputnik.
-
Is Moscow using the S-400 against Turkey? / Semih Idiz
Ankara denies the suggestion from Moscow that a second batch of S-400s is headed for Turkey and says it is an effort to stall Turkey’s talks with the United States and Europe.
-
Erdogan: Turkey not to hesitate about buying more S-400 missiles
Turkey is not pulling back from buying more S-400 air defense missiles from Russia, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, according to the Aksam newspaper.
-
Turkey is not ready to buy more S-400s from Russia
Turkey is not ready to sign a deal with Russia to purchase a second battery of S-400 air defense missiles, the Middle East Eye reported on Tuesday.
-
US presence in Syrian Kurdistan is symbolic and limited, official tells Kurdpress
The representative of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the Balkans told Kurdpress in an interview that the US troops are in Syrian Kurdistan only for political support, and the number of their forces is very limited.
-
Syrian government, Kurds discuss plans for oil trade
The Qatirji company and Syrian Democratic Forces are discussing the possibility of increasing oil shipments between SDF-controlled areas to government-held areas.
-
Russia follows instrumental policy towards Kurds: researcher
Deputy-Head of the Analytical Center told Kurdpress in an interview that Russia's overall view of the Kurds in Iraq and Syria is instrumental, but that its relations with the Syrian Kurds depend on many factors.
-
Nechirvan Barzani meets new Russian ambassador to Iraq
Kurdistan Region President, Nechirvan Barzani, met with the new Russian ambassador to Iraq.
-
Russia declares readiness to facilitate Kurdish-Damascus talks
Russian foreign minister has said that Moscow is ready to facilitate talks between the Kurds and the Syrian central government.
-
Continuing disagreement between Kurds and Damascus would allow Turkey to expand territory in Syria: expert
A Kurdish affairs expert warned in an interview with Kurdpress that continuing disagreement between the Kurds and the Syrian central government would lead to more Turkey territory expansion in Syria.
-
U.S. cuts defence funding to anti-ISIS Kurdish-led fighters in Syria
U.S. President Joe Biden’s defence budget for 2022 will cut funding to the Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces (SDF) and other groups fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.
-
Turkey and the Kurdish Factor in the Middle East
The diversity and competition as well as cooperation among various Kurdish actors in the Middle East, and their relations with third parties, have not only an impact on the regional situation but also broader implications for the great-power competition among the United States, Russia, and China. Kurds are spread across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, with Kurdish actors engaged in political and armed activities in all four countries.
-
Russia to expand its naval base in Syrian port of Tartus
Russia plans to expand its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus in order to build a floating wharf in the port.
-
Russian forces stop and turn back U.S. military convoy in Syria
Russia's military stopped and turned back a U.S. convoy in Syria as friction grows between Washington and Moscow over each other's roles in de-escalating conflict in the country.
-
Pressure on Syrian Kurds would increase if US withdraws forces: community
The US intelligence community has warned that pressure on the Syrian Kurds will increase if US forces withdraw from areas controlled by the Syrian Kurds.
-
What lies behind Erdogan’s Syria offer to the West? / Fehim Tastekin
The Turkish president’s appeal to the West to back Turkey in Syria and make political gains “at minimum cost” comes as a sign he has little intention of giving up his ambitions in Syria.
-
Why is Syrian military deploying in Kurdish-held areas? / Khaled al-Khateb
The Syrian government seeks to strengthen its military presence in Ain Issa and the area overlooking the M4 international highway, which are under control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.