Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• Ankara jets pound PKK positions in SE Turkey, N Iraq Press TV 30 Apr 2016 -- Turkish warplanes have conducted fresh airstrikes against militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), hitting the group's positions in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.
• Turkey deploys troops to its military base in Qatar Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Turkey has announced the deployment of soldiers to its first overseas military base, which has been set up in Qatar.
• Turkish Multi-Purpose Military Base in Qatar Starts Operating Sputnik 28 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish military base in Qatar has started its work, Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday.
• U.S. Arrest Awakens Ghosts Of Turkey's Iran-Gold Scandal RFE/RL 28 Apr 2016 -- a Turkish gold trader and socialite who allegedly acted as the intermediary between Turkey and Iran.
• Bombing hits Turkey's Bursa, wounds several people Press TV 27 Apr 2016 -- A female bomber has set off her explosives in Turkey's northwestern city of Bursa, leaving at least 13 people injured, local media reports say.
• Principle of Secularism to Be Preserved in New Turkish Constitution Sputnik 27 Apr 2016 -- Turkey's secular character will be preserved in the country's new constitution, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Wednesday.
• US to Deploy Multiple Rocket Launchers in Turkey, Iraq for Anti-Daesh War Sputnik 26 Apr 2016 -- Washington will deploy two multiple rocket launchers - one in Turkey and the other in Iraq - to be used against Daesh.
• Turkey FM: Ankara to station US rocket system on Syria border Press TV 26 Apr 2016 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Ankara will deploy a US rocket launcher system on the border with Syria next month to allegedly combat the Takfiri Daesh terrorists.
• Turkey rejects plan to drop secular rule Press TV 26 Apr 2016 -- Turkey's parliament speaker says the country should have a religious constitution and drop secularism from its new charter, prompting an official to dismiss the idea.
• Military Buildup? Turkey Deploys Missile Systems on Border With Syria Sputnik 26 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish army has pulled additional forces to the border with Syria, placing several rocket launchers near the Turkish city of Kilis, local media reported.
• Turkey Media Crackdown Expands with Growing Security Concerns VOA 26 Apr 2016 -- Pressure on journalists in Turkey appears to be spreading to the foreign media. This week, four reporters were denied entry into the country.
• U.S. to deploy rocket system in Turkey against IS People's Daily 26 Apr 2016 -- The United States will send a rocket system to Turkey to boost its defense against Islamic State (IS) militants across the border in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.
• PKK attack kills two soldiers, injures four in Turkey's southeast Press TV 25 Apr 2016 -- Two Turkish soldiers have been killed and four others injured in an armed attack by militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the country's volatile southeast.
• If Erdogan Can't Stand Criticism, 'He Shouldn't be in Politics' Sputnik 25 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish government has called on Turkish organizations in the Netherlands to collect information about Turks in the Netherlands who make insults against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking to Sputnik, a representative of Turkey's leading opposition party in the Netherlands said that the measure serves only to humiliate Dutch Turks.
• Turkey's 'Homemade' Missile Defense System Will be Integrated Into NATO Sputnik 25 Apr 2016 -- Turkey is going to eleborate its own missile defense system, which may be integrated in the NATO-operated one, the head of Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) said Monday.
• Planning to Stay: Germany to Construct Permanent Air Base in Turkey Sputnik 25 Apr 2016 -- Germany is discussing the construction of its own permanent air base in Turkey with Ankara; it plans to use the base to combat Daesh terrorists, according to the Der Spiegel magazine.
• Turkey president needs thicker skin against criticism: EU official Press TV 24 Apr 2016 -- A senior EU official suggests Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan needs to develop a "thick skin" against criticisms amid growing crackdown on critical media by Ankara.
• PKK attacks kill soldier, injure dozen policemen in southeast Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- A Turkish soldier has been killed and a dozen police officers have been injured in separate attacks by militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the country's volatile southeast.
• Turkish PM Cites Dramatic Decrease in Syrian Migrant Exodus VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Saturday that his country's efforts to deter Syrians from entering Greece by sea had drastically cut daily migrant voyages from 6,000 in November to as few as 130 since early April.
• Russia says Turkey seeks for Nagorno-Karabakh war Press TV 22 Apr 2016 -- Russia has strongly slammed the Turkish stance on the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, accusing it of seeking to ignite war in the disputed region.
• Turkey court releases 4 academics accused of terror propaganda Press TV 22 Apr 2016 -- A court in Istanbul has released pending trial four Turkish academics jailed on charges of "spreading terrorist propaganda."
• Turkey's top court overturns 275 verdicts in Ergenekon case Press TV 22 Apr 2016 -- Turkey's supreme court of appeals has overturned the conviction of 275 people who had been tried for allegedly plotting a coup d'état against the government in Ankara back in 2003.
• Journalists, Academics on Trial in Turkish Free Speech Cases VOA 22 Apr 2016 -- The trial of two Turkish journalists accused of espionage and aiding a terrorist organization adjourned Friday and one of them expressed hope that the case was nearing acquittal.
• Turkey Increases Number of Tanks, Howitzers on Border With Syria - Reports Sputnik 21 Apr 2016 -- Turkey has increased the number of deployed tanks and howitzers on the border with Syria in a precaution measure against an attacks by Daesh militants, local media reported Thursday.
• Turkish Military Conspiracy Case Collapses VOA 21 Apr 2016 -- Turkey's top appeals court has overturned the convictions of senior military officers who had been charged with planning to overthrow the government. The convictions two years ago were hailed as an example of civilian rulers ending the military's influence in Turkish politics.
• NATO Secretary General thanks Turkey for long-standing contribution to the Alliance NATO 21 Apr 2016 -- Visiting Turkey on Thursday (21 April) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavusoglu, and Minister of Defence Ismet Yilmaz.
• Turkish-Syrian Border Pocket is Heart of Fight Against IS VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- Kurdish and Syrian rebels launched an offensive in late March to take back a small border region between Turkey and Syria that has become a key foothold for Islamic State militants. After weeks of fighting, local commanders say the operation is now intensifying.
• Turkey rejects PKK calls for negotiations: Opposition leader Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish government has rejected a call made a few months ago by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group to return to negotiations with Ankara, a pro-Kurdish opposition leader says.
• EU needs Turkey more than Turkey needs EU, Erdogan says Press TV 19 Apr 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced a recent report by the European Union critical of the rule of law in his country, saying the EU needs Ankara more than Turkey needs the union.
• Turkey detains 101 for alleged links to cleric Gulen Press TV 18 Apr 2016 -- Turkey has detained scores of people for their alleged link to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen whom the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regards as an opponent.
• Erdogan's Turkey Looks to Develop Next-Gen Drone Subsystems Sputnik 18 Apr 2016 -- Turkey's foray into drone technology comes amid increased crackdowns against political and intellectual dissent as well as on the country's Kurdish minority, while emboldening the government's imperial ambitions.
• Turkey Detains Dozens Linked to US-Based Islamic Cleric, Erdogan Foe VOA 18 Apr 2016 -- Turkish police detained dozens of people for their alleged financial links to U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported Monday.
• Erdogan's Government Arrests Over 100 on Suspicion of Plotting Coup Sputnik 19 Apr 2016 -- More than a hundred people were detained by Turkish law enforcement on Monday over alleged links to the movement of Erdogan's ally-turned-bitter-rival Fethullah Gülen, who, in the view of Ankara, seeks to depose the current leader.
• Erdogan Steps Up Support of Azerbaijan in Karabakh Dispute VOA 15 Apr 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking a more assertive stance in the Caucasus following the latest fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Turkish Parliament Considering Lifting Immunity for Kurd Deputies VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish parliament has begun the process of lifting the immunity of leading parliamentary deputies of the pro-Kurdish party.
• Marine Corps Aircraft Deploy to Turkey for Operation Inherent Resolve AFPS 14 Apr 2016 -- EA-6B Prowler aircraft from Marine Corps Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 have deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to support electronic attack requirements in Operation Inherent Resolve, the effort to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
• US Deploys Communications Support Aircraft to Turkey for Anti-Daesh Ops Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- According to US European Command, US Marine Corps deployed a squadron of EA-6B Prowler aircraft to the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in support of coalition operations against the Daesh.
• Turkey Proposes Anti-Terrorism Body at OIC Summit VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Turkey's president has called for closer cooperation among Western and Muslim counties in the fight against terrorism, as he urged the leaders to tackle the problem from the security and financial fronts.
• Turkey Conducted Nearly 4,000 Artillery Strikes on Syria - Defense Minister Sputnik 13 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish Armed Forces have conducted nearly 4,000 strikes since January on Syrian territory, controlled by Daesh, Turkey's Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz said Friday.
• Turkish army shells 'Daesh positions' in northern Syria Press TV 13 Apr 2016 -- Turkish military forces have shelled northern Syria, claiming to have targeted positions of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the war-torn Arab country.
• Erdogan-Putin Animosity Hurting Turkey-Russia Relations VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Tentative steps have been taken in the past few weeks to try to ease tensions between Ankara and Moscow, which were strained when Turkish jets shot down a Russian bomber operating from a Syrian airbase in November.
• Saudi King Visits Turkey in Sign of Improving Relations VOA 11 Apr 2016 -- Relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia have deepened over their cooperation in the Syrian civil war and their concerns over rising Iranian power.
• Tensions Rising Between US, Turkey Over Possible Closure of Incirlik Base Sputnik 10 Apr 2016 -- Washington's unwillingness to take actions toward the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, may result in Ankara closing the Incirlik airbase to the US, an adviser to the Turkish president said.
• Erdogan Tries to 'Prevent Kurds From Participating in Syria Peace Talks' Sputnik 10 Apr 2016 -- Ankara is making every effort to prevent the Kurds from participating in the Syria peace talks in Geneva, speaker of Syria's People's Council Mohammad Laham said Sunday.
• Turkish raids in north Iraq displace locals Press TV 10 Apr 2016 -- Dozens of villages have been abandoned and hundreds of families displaced as Turkey goes ahead with a deadly aerial campaign in northern Iraq, officials and locals say.
• Turkish weapons factory director caught selling state secrets to US Press TV 09 Apr 2016 -- The head of Turkey's state-owned Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) weapons factory has been arrested on charges of trying to sell weapon designs to a US company.
• Arms Official Tried to Sell Weapons Secrets to US Firm, Turkey Says VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- A top official of Turkey's state-run arms company was arrested this week while trying to sell weapons production plans to a U.S. firm owned by a Turkish national, Turkish authorities said.
• Turkey, Israel closer to deal on normalization of ties: Ankara Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- Ankara says Turkey and Israel have made progress towards the conclusion of an agreement aimed at ending a six-year freeze in their relations.
• Turkey warns it may stop implementing refugee deal Press TV 07 Apr 2016 -- Turkey has warned that it would stop implementing a historic deal with the European Union on curbing the flow of refugees to Europe if the EU fails to fulfill its promises.
• US, Turkey Discuss Ways to Back Syrian Opposition in IS Fight VOA 07 Apr 2016 -- U.S. and Turkish authorities are discussing ways to support the moderate Syrian opposition in the effort to push Islamic State from the Turkish border farther east in Syria.
• Turkey's PM and President Increasingly at Odds VOA 07 Apr 2016 -- Growing political differences are emerging again between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as the country faces increasing domestic and international woes.
• PYD Kurdish Party Blames Turkish Pressure for Geneva Talks Snub Sputnik 06 Apr 2016 -- Countries that block Syrian Kurds participation in Geneva peace talks do so because of the pressure exerted by Turkey, the co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Sputnik on Wednesday.
• Turkey may strip PKK supporters of citizenship, Erdogan says Press TV 05 Apr 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara "must" consider all options including revoking citizenship to prevent supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from doing harm.
• Turkey detains 68 over alleged links to Gulen Press TV 05 Apr 2016 -- Police in Turkey have launched a series of raids across the country, arresting 68 people as part of a probe into the so-called Gulenist terror group.
• Turkey declares curfew in southeast town Press TV 05 Apr 2016 -- Turkey has declared a curfew in the southeastern town of Silopi after an attack by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants on police there.
• Turkey Posts $14M Reward for Wanted IS Militants VOA 05 Apr 2016 -- Facing blistering internal criticism over its failure to halt a wave of terrorist attacks, the Turkish government on Tuesday set a reward of $14 million for information leading to the arrest of Islamic State suspects in at least four recent suicide bombings.
• Turkish president says time for peace talks with PKK over Press TV 04 Apr 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to continue operations against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, saying there remains no room for peace talks with the militant group.
• Turkish army kills 27 militants in restive southeast Press TV 04 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish military says at least 27 members of a militant group have been killed during military operations in the troubled southeastern part of Turkey.
• Turkey 'Spreads Instability' by Backing Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh Sputnik 03 Apr 2016 -- Syria isn't the only place where the Turkish government keeps putting spokes into others' wheels. This time Ankara is working to destabilize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan by supporting Baku's aggressive policies in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said.
• Erdogan says offended by Obama's remarks on press freedom Press TV 03 Apr 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says it is saddening that US President Barack Obama made comments in his "absence" about freedom of press in Turkey.
• Erdogan: Obama Spoke 'Behind My Back' on Press Freedom VOA 03 Apr 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused U.S. President Barack Obama of criticizing him behind his back over press freedom issues during a visit last week to Washington.
• Six Turkish forces killed in alleged PKK bombing Press TV 02 Apr 2016 -- Six Turkish forces, including a Special Forces police officer, have reportedly been killed in a bomb blast in southeastern Turkey, blamed on Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants.
• Turkey sends arms to Daesh in Syria through aid convoys: Russia Press TV 02 Apr 2016 -- Russia's envoy to the United Nations (UN) says he has submitted to the Security Council purported evidence of the illicit transfer of arms and military hardware by Turkey to Daesh terrorist group in Syria.
• Amnesty Says Turkey Illegally Sending Syrians Back To War Zone RFE/RL 02 Apr 2016 -- Amnesty International has accused Turkey of illegally returning thousands of Syrians to their war-torn homeland in recent months.
• UN refugee agency urges safeguard compliance before any returns begin under EU-Turkey deal UN News 01 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations refugee agency today urged parties to the recent EU-Turkey agreement on refugees and migrants to ensure all safeguards are in place before any returns begin.
• Erdogan urges Europe to support Ankara's anti-PKK campaign Press TV 31 Mar 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on European countries to support Ankara's military operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) following a bomb attack, which hit Turkish forces in southeastern province of Diyarbakir.
• Russia concerned with reports of Turkey military shooting at refugees Press TV 01 Apr 2016 -- Russia has expressed concerns about reports of Turkish military's shooting at refugees struggling to cross into the country from Syria, calling for justice to be served for those responsible for alleged crimes.
• Lavrov to Kerry: Seal the Turkish-Syrian Border to Prevent Terrorists Flow Sputnik 01 Apr 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated in the a phone call with US State Secretary John Kerry that the Turkey-Syria border remains 'full of holes' and is actively used to bring terrorists to Syria via Turkey.
• UNHCR: Safeguards Lacking for Refugees Deported From Europe to Turkey VOA 01 Apr 2016 -- The U.N. refugee agency is calling for safeguards before refugees and migrants are deported from Greece to Turkey as required under a deal between the European Union and Turkey. The UNHCR says measures must be taken to ensure that the human rights of all those returned are protected.