Opinion

Meet Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Turkey’s long-derided opposition head who could dethrone Erdogan

The leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, who will face off against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in presidential elections May 14, is a far more complex figure than meets the eye.
Kurdish observers fear of a Turkish 'occupation' of Iraqi Kurdistan Region

More Kurdish political analysts claim that Turkey is gradually occupying and seeking to annex northern Iraq under the pretext of fighting militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK
Erdogan claims EU 'cannot endure strongly' without Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement released on Sunday, Europe Day, that the EU “has not kept its promises to Turkey.”
How Russia is preparing in Syria for Biden’s presidency / Anton Mardasov

Moscow is hoping the final months of outgoing President Donald Trump's presidency will allow it an opportunity to reinforce its positions in Syria.
How does Erdogan get away with it all? / Cengiz Candar

The United States and European Union’s inertia may allow Turkey to threaten de-escalation efforts in Libya and South Caucasus.
US backs Iraqi progress on budget deal with Kurdistan Region / Ali Mamouri

The Trump administration says it supports Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's progress so far in working out a budget agreement with the Kurdistan Region.
Syria should be divided into three zones of foreign influence / Dania Koleilat Khatib

World leaders have long stressed the need to maintain Syria&rsquo;s territorial integrity, but at the moment, such a goal is unrealistic. Retired U.S. Gen. David Petraeus once likened…
Teacher translates Quran to save endangered Kurdish dialect / Dana Taib Menmy

Hawrami, a dialect of the Kurdish language, is spoken by some 23,000 people in Iran&rsquo;s Western Kurdistan and Iraq&rsquo;s Hawraman area. UNESCO classed the dialect as &ldquo;…
Why the US plan to have Europeans run a Syria safe zone is no sure bet /Jack Detsch

The Donald Trump administration has asked European allies to participate in a safe zone to protect the US-backed Syrian Kurds, the Wall Street Journal reports.
U.S.-Turkish ties may be cut for good in Syria / Aaron Stein

Last week, the United States and Turkey started joint military patrols in the Syrian town of Manbij. The patrols are part of the second phase of the so-called Manbij Roadmap, an agreement…
What will it take to defuse US-Turkey crisis? / Amberin Zaman

The US Treasury&rsquo;s Aug. 1 bombshell about sanctioning two key ministers in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan&rsquo;s Cabinet over the continued detention of North Carolina…
Terrorist attack on Erbil government building raises concern in Iraqi Kurdistan / Fazel Hawramy

An attack on an Erbil government building by three young Kurds in the early hours of July 23 killed one person and wounded four members of the security forces. The attack not only revealed…