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Cyprus says it has dismantled a criminal human smuggling ring responsible for transporting migrants on boats from Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.
2023-08-23

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) threatens to turn to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for support if Turkey launches a new military operation in northern Syria, where the SDF controls most of its territory.
2022-06-7

Fifteen members of Turkey's Republican People's Party quit and join the İyi Party, allowing the İyi Party to satisfy eligibility requirements such as having 20 lawmakers in Parliament for upcoming elections. Party leader Meral Akşener, who defected from the Nationalist Movement Party, will run against incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the presidency.
2018-04-22

European Union and Turkish officials agree on how to handle the flood of refugees. The deal, to return irregular migrants to Turkey, includes acceleration of the country's long-stalled bid for membership in the union; billions of euros in extra aid, 3 billion euros now, another 3 billion by 2018; and, visa-free travel for Turks once the country satisfies the EU criteria. Europe will be taking in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) strongly condemns the deal as "ugly and illegal." The agreement is set to go into effect Sunday, March 20, 2016.
2016-03-18

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warns Russia not to "play with fire" and says Russia is supporting the "state terrorism" of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria that has "killed 380,000 people". Relations between the former Cold War antagonists have been severely damaged after Turkey shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 near the Syria–Turkey border on November 24, 2015.
2015-11-27

Some 13,000 refugees have crossed into Turkey as Syrian Kurd People's Protection Units encircle the ISIL-held town of Suluk.
2015-06-13

Sporadic fighting continues in Tripoli, Lebanon, between supporters and opponents of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
2012-06-3

Syrian civil war: At least 13 people are killed in a continuing crackdown by security forces in Syria; opposition leaders meeting in Turkey call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
2011-06-2

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issues an amnesty for all "political crimes" amid continuing protests.
2011-05-31

The Anatolian Agency reports that two Turkish Army soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Mardin Province near the Turkish border with Syria.
2010-08-8