Nurettin Canikli

The Turkish parliament on Sept. 23 approved the extension of a mandate permitting the government to deploy troops to Iraq and Syria for another year, just two days before the scheduled referendum to be held by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). 

An Ankara prosecutor filed an indictment against main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul lawmaker Sezgin Tanrıkulu on Sept. 8, after he voiced concerns over allegations that an armed drone in the southeastern province of Hakkari shot four citizens, leaving one dead. 

After attending the "Victory Day" reception at the presidency on Aug. 30, I drew the following conclusions:

- Turkey is ready to conduct all kinds of maneuvers to prevent unwanted situations and fait accomplis to its south. Whatever is necessary will be done. The decision has been taken. I saw the sense of relief that this decision has been taken at the highest level. 

Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli and the U.S. Secretary of State James Mattis discussed the issue of Iran's "malign influence in the region" on Aug. 23, according to a statement released from the Pentagon.

Mattis and Canikli discussed the topic during the former's visit to Ankara, where he also held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis pledged support to Turkey in its ongoing fight against rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) during talks with the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish and US officials said today.

The U.S.'s ongoing support for the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) dominated Pentagon chief Jim Mattis's talks in Ankara on Aug. 23, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan complaining about Washington's policy, a Turkish official has told the Hürriyet Daily News. 

Iran's chief of general staff, Major General Mohammad Hossein Bageri, became the first Iranian top soldier since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 to visit Turkey on Aug. 15. Bageri held talks with his Turkish counterpart General Hulusi Akar, but not only with Akar.

Iran's Chief of General Staff Maj Gen Mohamed Baqeri is due to hold talks in Ankara with top Turkish officials, in a rare visit in which all regional security issues, the fight against terrorism, and developments in Syria and Iraq, including the Iraqi Kurds' upcoming independence referendum, will be discussed. 

The Supreme Military Board (YAŞ) convened for a critical meeting under Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Aug. 2 to discuss promotions and expulsions from the military.

It is the third supreme military board meeting since the last year's failed coup attempt and the second with its changed structure.

Turkey's Supreme Military Board (YAŞ) will convene to discuss promotions and expels from the army in a one-day meeting to be held on Aug. 2 under the leadership of Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.

The decisions of the YAŞ will be announced after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's approval on the same day.