Turkey

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is located partially in the continent of Asia and partially in Europe. It shares borders with Greece and Bulgaria to the Northwest, Iran to the east and Iraq to the southeast. It also shares various borders with Syria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

70%-75% of Turkey's population are Turks, and 19% are Kurds, making them the country's largest minority group. The country's capital is Ankara, and the largest city and financial city is Istanbul.

As of November 2021, the President of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has served in this position since 2014. Prior to that, he served as Prime Minister of the country from 2003-2014.

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, an estimated 3.6 million Syrian refugees have taken up residence in Turkey, most of them living with temporary residence permits.

Former PM Bennett: Enthusiastic Hamas aides, Turkey and Qatar, ushered through Gaza's front door

“Erdogan and the despicable Qatar, the greatest haters of Israel, the most enthusiastic aides of Hamas, are being ushered in through the front door to run Gaza,” Bennett wrote on X/Twitter.

JANUARY 20, 2026|BySAM HALPERN

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett attends a conference at the Academic College in Tel Aviv, January 7, 2026.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media at the end of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, November 23, 2025

Syrian deal with SDF could lead to Turkey-PKK peace, Turkish officials say

After days of fighting, the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed on Sunday to bring Kurdish authorities under the control of Damascus.

JANUARY 19, 2026|ByREUTERS

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives speech at the Knesset on January 19.

Netanyahu: There won't be Turkish or Qatari soldiers in Gaza, amid 'dispute’ with US

Netanyahu said Israel was approaching “Phase B” of the Trump plan, which is the next stage of the US-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

JANUARY 19, 2026|ByKESHET NEEV

Destroyed buildings as seen from an Israeli military outpost within the borders of the ‘yellow line’ in the eastern part of Gaza City in the Gaza Strip. The photo was taken as part of an IDF ‘embed’ and reviewed by the IDF before publication.

‘A technocratic shift in Gaza’: National committee formed, security concerns remain

Competing views on Hamas, the role of regional mediators, and the absence of Palestinian political representation at the executive level are shaping the next phase.

JANUARY 19, 2026|ByGIORGIA VALENTE/THE MEDIA LINE

Smotrich: Thank you Trump for the help, but now Israel needs to control Gaza

Smotrich thanked Trump for his support for Israel and efforts to assist in returning hostages, but said the US president’s Gaza plan should be canceled.

JANUARY 19, 2026ByFRAIDY MOSER

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen after a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem on December 4, 2025.

Qatari, Turkish presence on Trump's Gaza board could push Israel toward major reserve call-ups

If Trump's plan fails to demilitarize Gaza, Israel is likely to seek to carry out the disarmament itself, which would mean mobilizing four to five reserve divisions and resuming an offensive in Gaza.

JANUARY 19, 2026ByAVI ASHKENAZI

IDF soldiers operate in Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip, May 8, 2025.

Erdogan, Sharaa discuss Syria as SDF confirms withdrawal following ceasefire

Turkey’s President Erdogan spoke with Syrian President Sharaa after a deal with Kurdish forces, as SDF leader Mazloum Abdi confirmed a military withdrawal, and plans to visit Damascus.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByREUTERS, JAMES GENN

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrive for a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, February 4, 2025.

Trump’s new Gaza Board is a fact, Israel’s job now is to shape the decisions - analysis

Israel is not going to succeed in expelling Turkey or Qatar from the Gaza Board of Peace; the more realistic goal is to limit how much influence they are able to exert.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByHERB KEINON

US President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. participate in a roundtable on rural health, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, January 16, 2026.

World leaders show caution on Trump's broader 'Board of Peace' amid fears for UN

Trump has also invited India to be a part of the BoP, Asian News International (ANI) reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the details.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF

The United Nations flag over the Jerusalem offices of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees.

Turkey and Qatar got Gaza because Israel refused to make a plan - comment

The day after in Gaza will be decided by whoever takes ownership of it with an executable policy.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByZVIKA KLEIN

IDF Armor Brigade 7 soldiers operate in Gaza on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Israel's cabinet members blame Jared Kushner for Turkish, Qatari presence on Gaza board

Ministers said Kushner “derailed” Israel’s 2020 sovereignty declaration and continues to pose obstacles because of close political and economic links with Arab leaders.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByYEHUDA SHLEZINGER

Jared Kushner looks on, as US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff speaks in Hostages square, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 11, 2025

'Muslim NATO': Turkey in advanced talks to join Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense pact

What distinguishes current talks from the historical cooperation among the three countries is the effort to formalize these relationships under a mutual defense framework.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByASHER SMITH

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan talks with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud as Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar looks on, before their meeting on Gaza, in Istanbul, Turkey, November 3, 2025.

Syria's power struggle: Who controls what, and why fighting continues - analysis

For some commentators, the current conflict in Syria boils down to the new Syrian government attacking Kurdish forces. While this is correct in some ways, it is also very simplistic.

JANUARY 18, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

A group of civilians carry bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026

Syria's government faces pivotal moment against SDF, as it retakes largest oil field - analysis

Overnight on January 17 and 18, there were major changes on the ground as Arab tribal fighters claimed to seize control of a number of villages and two oil fields on the East side of the Euphrates.

JANUARY 18, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Soldiers from the Syrian Democratic Forces stand in front of the detainees before the first exchange operation between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian government in Aleppo, Syria, April 3, 2025.

Donald Trump sets $1 billion price tag for permanent seats on Gaza Board of Peace - report

Leaders from more than 60 countries have been invited to serve on the Gaza Board of Peace.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM

Palestinians walk along a street flooded by rainwater in the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on January 13, 2026.