Turkey condemns Sweden protests, cancels ministers’ meeting
January 21, 2023 GMTSTOCKHOLM (AP) — Turkey on Saturday canceled a planned visit by Sweden’s defense minister in response to anti-Turkish protests that increased tension between the two countries as Sweden seeks Turkey's approval to join NATO.
Turkish, Russian forces could ‘expand’ Syria joint patrols
January 4, 2023 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s defense minister said Wednesday that Turkish and Russian troops could “expand” their joint patrols in northern Syria as part of efforts to bring security to the region.
Turkey remains concerned by alleged PKK activity in Finland
December 8, 2022 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey remains concerned by alleged activities of Kurdish militant groups inside Finland and expects Helsinki to take “concrete steps” before Ankara can approve its NATO membership, Turkey’s defense minister said Thursday.
Turkey says Finland must end arms embargo to join NATO
December 6, 2022 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Finland must publicly declare that it's lifting an arms embargo on Turkey to win Ankara’s approval for its membership to NATO, the Turkish foreign minister said Tuesday.
Mevlut Cavusoglu made the comments ahead of visit by Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen, who will be discussing his nation’s bid to join the military alliance with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar on Thursday.
Israeli minister signals defense ties’ restart with Turkey
October 27, 2022 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Israel's defense minister on Thursday signaled a possible resumption of defense ties with Turkey as the two nations take steps to normalize their strained relationship.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar in the Turkish capital Ankara, that he instructed his staff "to begin the procedures required in order to resume working relations.”
Turkey says 23 Kurdish militants killed in Iraq airstrikes
October 2, 2022 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish warplanes “neutralized” 23 Kurdish militants in a raid 140 kilometers (90 miles) inside Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Sunday.
The ministry usually refers to killed militants as “neutralized.” It said the number of casualties in the mission in the Asos region of northern Iraq, which is controlled by the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government, was expected to rise.
Turkish, Greek defense ministers meet amid renewed tensions
June 16, 2022 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The defense ministers of Greece and Turkey met Thursday on the sidelines of a NATO meeting amid renewed tensions between the neighboring countries and allies, Turkey’s defense ministry said.
Turkey launches new ground, air offensive in northern Iraq
April 18, 2022 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has launched a new ground and air cross-border offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, that has left at least 19 suspected Kurdish rebels dead and has wounded at least four Turkish soldiers, Turkey’s defense minister said Monday.
Defense minister warns Greece not to test Turkey’s patience
January 8, 2022 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Greece should refrain from testing Turkey’s patience with provocations, including with a threat to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean, Turkey’s defense minister warned on Saturday.
Turkey slams Greek ‘dreams’ to extend territorial waters
September 9, 2021 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's defense minister reiterated on Thursday that his country will never accept any Greek move to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean sea, dismissing any possible effort by Athens as “empty dreams.”
Plane carrying Turkish defense chiefs makes forced landing
July 26, 2021 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A plane carrying Turkey’s defense minister and other top military officials was forced to make an emergency landing on Monday after it hit a bird, the state-run news agency reported.
No decision yet in Turkey’s negotiations for Kabul Airport
July 2, 2021 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s defense minister said Friday that negotiations over his country's proposal to operate and secure the key international airport in Afghanistan are taking place.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkey was discussing the plan with several countries.
Turkish, US officials discuss Afghan airport security plans
June 24, 2021 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish and U.S. military officials met in Turkey’s capital on Thursday to discuss plans for Turkish troops to continue securing Kabul’s airport after the withdrawal of the U.S.
Libya’s top diplomat urges withdrawal of foreign fighters
May 3, 2021 GMTCAIRO (AP) — Libya’s top diplomat Monday called for the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries from the North African country as it heads toward elections later this year...
Turkey urges ‘review’ of US sanction decision over S-400s
January 14, 2021 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A top Turkish official is calling on the new U.S. administration to engage in a dialogue with Turkey and to review a decision to sanction the country over its purchase of an advanced Russian air defense system.
Greece calls new Turkish survey mission a threat to region
October 12, 2020 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece accused neighbor Turkey of undermining efforts to ease a crisis over eastern Mediterranean drilling rights Monday, after Ankara redeployed a survey vessel for new energy exploration in disputed waters — including an area very close to a secluded Greek island...
4 Turkish soldiers, 2 civilians killed in bus accident
July 27, 2020 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Four Turkish soldiers and two civilian drivers were killed in a traffic accident in southern Turkey, authorities said Monday...
Turkey insists on apology from France over naval standoff
July 17, 2020 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s defense minister said Friday his country still expects an apology from NATO ally France over a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea that prompted Paris to suspend its involvement in a NATO naval operation...
At least 18 dead, hundreds hurt as quake hits eastern Turkey
January 25, 2020 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A 6.8-magnitude earthquake rocked a sparsely-populated part of eastern Turkey on Friday, killing at least 18 people, injuring more than 500 and leaving some 30 trapped in the wreckage of toppled buildings, Turkish officials said...
Turkey says its forces capture 18 Syrian soldiers in Syria
October 31, 2019 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish military forces captured 18 Syrian government soldiers in northeastern Syria, Turkey's defense minister said Thursday, in one of the most dramatic examples of an increasingly muddled battleground following the withdrawal of U...
US, Turkey conduct northeast Syria patrol amid new concerns
October 4, 2019 GMTBEIRUT (AP) — The U.S.-led coalition and Turkey conducted Friday their third joint patrol in northeastern Syria amid renewed concerns the plan designed to defuse tensions between Washington's two allies — Ankara and the Syrian Kurds— may not be enough...
Despite US warnings, Russian S-400 systems land in Turkey
July 12, 2019 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The first shipment of a Russian missile defense system has arrived in Turkey, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Friday, moving the country closer to possible U...
US warns Turkey it faces sanctions if it buys Russian system
June 26, 2019 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper made it clear to Turkey on Wednesday that it will face economic sanctions if it goes ahead with the purchase of a Russian missile defense system, as the standoff between the two NATO allies dragged on...