Syrian civil war

A Turkish soldier was killed in the southeastern Hakkari province, the country's Defense Ministry said on Aug. 28.

Infantry Ümit Çıkın, who lost his balance and fell in a position where he was on duty in the Şemdinli district, was killed on Aug. 28, the ministry's office of press and public relations said in a statement.

A Turkish soldier was fatally wounded during an anti-terror operation in eastern Turkey, a security source said late on Aug. 27.   

Specialized Sergeant Çetin Ak was struck by shrapnel during the destruction of materials found in a cave in Ağri province. 

Turkey is fully focused on protecting its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, and the Aegean, the nation's president said on Aug. 15.

Turkey is also focused on stopping terrorist groups in Syria and northern Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in Rize on the Turkish Black Sea, speaking to the public and local members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Any move against Turkey's vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean will get a response, the country's defense minister, Hulusi Akar, said in a video message to Turkish crew members.

"Everyone must know how determined we are on this issue," Akar was quoted as saying by Turkish media.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) lends support to Turkey's drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean, party spokesperson Faik Öztrak said on Aug. 11.

Turkey has the right to make any kind of decisions on its continent area by international law and should not take a step back, he told reporters at a press conference.

Turkey's defense industry body on Aug. 11 said Ankara was determined to continue its policies to ensure that the Turkish defense industry operates fully independently.

Turkey continues to block NATO defense plans for Poland and Baltic states despite a deal in London last year between Turkey's president and allied leaders, three allied diplomats and a French defense official said on Wednesday.

Diplomats said while Ankara has approved the plan, known as Eagle Defender, it has not allowed NATO military chiefs to put it into action.

Turkey has launched Operation Claw-Tiger against terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry announced early on June 17. 

Two suspects arrested in a Turkish operation were remanded in custody on June 15 over their alleged links to the ISIL, according to judicial sources.

The suspects had been caught by Turkish security forces in the southeastern Mardin province, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Turkish police detained eight Iraqi nationals over suspected links to the ISIL terror group, security sources said on June 15.

The detentions were made in Turkey's capital Ankara early on June 15  as part of an operation against the terror group, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the press.