Erdogan hails Eurofighter jets deal as ‘new symbol’ of strategic ties with Britain
"We regard this step as a new symbol of the strategic relations between our two close allies," he said after...Geostrategy
Nigeria refinery aims to be world’s biggest with expansion
Lagos, Nigeria -- Nigeria's Dangote oil refinery, already the largest in Africa, aims to become the biggest in the world...Business Energy Geostrategy
Turkey bars Israeli ships and flights from its territory
Ties between Turkey and Israel have been shattered by Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, with Ankara accusing Israel of...Turkish officials have repeatedly insisted that all trade ties with Israel have been cut, vowing there would be no normalization as long as the Gaza war continues.
In November, Turkey refused to let the Israeli president's plane cross its airspace, forcing him to cancel a planned visit to the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan.
Israel army says Gaza City now ‘a dangerous combat zone’
The Israeli military, however, is gearing up to expand the fighting and seize Gaza City, with its Arabic-language spokesman saying:...The UN estimates that nearly a million people currently live in Gaza governorate, which includes Gaza City and its surroundings in the north of the territory.
The UN declared a famine in Gaza governorate last week, blaming "systematic obstruction" by Israel of humanitarian aid deliveries.
Israeli minister calls to annex Gaza if Hamas doesn’t surrender
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday called on the government to begin annexing parts of the Gaza Strip if...The far-right minister, who has vocally opposed striking a deal with Hamas to end the nearly two-year war, presented his plan to "win in Gaza by the end of the year."
Under Smotrich's proposal, Hamas would be given an ultimatum to surrender, disarm and release the hostages still held in Gaza since the group's October 2023 attack.
Israeli forces raid site near Syria capital after bombing it several times: state media
Israeli forces conducted an overnight airborne raid on a site near the Syrian capital after bombing it several times, Syrian...Israel has not confirmed the raid, but Defence Minister Israel Katz said its forces operate "in all combat zones" to ensure the country's security
If verified, it would be the deepest such operation Israel has carried out inside Syria since an Islamist alliance seized power in Damascus in December
UN chief condemns ‘endless’ Gaza horrors as Israel presses offensive
Israel, whose military is preparing to conquer Gaza City, is under mounting pressure at home and abroad to end its...The vast majority of Gaza's population of more than two million people has been displaced at least once during the war.
Massive clouds of smoke rose into the sky above Gaza City after Israeli bombardments of the outskirts of the territory's largest city.
Iran says return of IAEA inspectors not full resumption of cooperation
Iran said Wednesday that the return of UN nuclear inspectors did not represent a full resumption of cooperation, which was...Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency began work at the key nuclear site of Bushehr in southwestern Iran, the nuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi said
"No final text has yet been approved on the new cooperation framework with the IAEA and views are being exchanged," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, quoted by state television
Israel ups pressure on famine-struck Gaza City as Trump talks post-war plan
On the ground, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 38 people on Wednesday, including...Israel is under mounting pressure both at home and abroad to end its almost two-year campaign in Gaza, where the United Nations has declared a famine
On the ground, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 38 people on Wednesday, including 16 in Gaza City
Erdogan jubilant as ‘Steel Dome’ air defence system delivered to military, hails it a milestone
Last August, Turkey, a member of NATO, unveiled plans to build a multi-layered air defence system to protect its airspace,..."Today we are providing our army with the Dome system, consisting of 47 vehicles worth $460 million, which will inspire confidence in friends and fear in enemies," Erdogan said
"This system will make the world of difference for Turkey's air defence. This is a turning point for Turkey," he said at a ceremony at the hqrs of Turkish defence giant Aselsan
Mediator Qatar says ‘still waiting’ for Israeli response to Gaza truce proposal
Qatar and Egypt, along with the United States, have been mediating indirect ceasefire negotiations throughout the Gaza war, but despite...The latest proposal put forward by mediators involves an initial 60-day truce and staggered exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
But Israel has appeared reluctant to budge from its demand that all the hostages being held at Gaza be freed at once.
Amnesty urges war crimes probe into Israeli destruction in Lebanon
Amnesty International said Tuesday that the Israeli army's extensive destruction of civilian property in south Lebanon, including after a ceasefire...The November 27 truce largely ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah that culminated in two months of open war
The rights group's Erika Guevara Rosas said in the statement that the destruction had "rendered entire areas uninhabitable and ruined countless lives".
