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.

Foreign ministers from Muslim, Arab countries denounce Israeli West Bank bill to expand control

A group of Arab and Muslim states condemned Israel’s latest Security Cabinet decisions on West Bank land policy, planning authority, and enforcement powers.

FEBRUARY 9, 2026|ByJAMES GENN

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attends a press briefing during an EU-Jordan summit in Amman, Jordan, January 8, 2026; illustrative.

Members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after US-backed alliance led by Syrian Kurdish fighters captured Deir el-Zor, in Syria December 7, 2024

Rojava defeated: Why Kurdish leadership must adapt or risk extinction - opinion

Kurdish political weaknesses and bad strategies are highlighted as risks for the region and Israel.

FEBRUARY 9, 2026|ByAMED MARDIN

L to R: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, former head of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh, July 26, 2023.

Turkey deepens role in Gaza’s 'Day After' through contacts with Hamas

An examination of the sequence of events and official statements indicates that Turkey is working to advance a framework in which Hamas would be recognized in any future Palestinian arrangement.

FEBRUARY 9, 2026|ByANNA BARSKY

HAMAS TERRORIST KHALED MASHAAL speaks during an interview in Doha.

Mashaal to Al Jazeera Forum: Hamas disarming risks making Gazans ‘easy victims to be eliminated'

“In the context that our people are still under occupation, talking about disarmament is an attempt to make our people an easy victim to be eliminated," Hamas’s political leader, Mashaal, said.

FEBRUARY 8, 2026|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD

Residue from Roman vial reveals first evidence of ancient physicians' use of fecal medicine - study

The vial, also known as an unguentarium, is commonly believed to have held perfumes or cosmetic oils.

FEBRUARY 8, 2026ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM

Unguentarium, 4th-5th century AD. Creator: Unknown.February 8, 2026.

Banning the Muslim Brotherhood: A good start, but only a first step - opinion

The Muslim Brotherhood's motto is “Allah is our objective, the Quran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader, Jihad is our way, and dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.”

FEBRUARY 7, 2026ByJONATHAN FELDSTEIN

An officially shuttered branch of the Muslim Brotherhood seen in Zarqa, Jordan on January 14.

US reiterates call for all citizens to 'leave Iran now,' in security alert on open border crossings

The US urged its citizens to "leave Iran now" due to protests, security measures, and flight disruptions. Dual nationals face the risk of detention, the travel advisory warned.

FEBRUARY 6, 2026ByJAMES GENN

An Iranian woman walks past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, April 26, 2025; illustrative

Turkey, Saudi Arabia looking to cooperate on new '5th-generation' warplane - report

The Turkish "Kaan" 5th-generation fighter jet is currently under development, with President Erdogan seeking joint defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Turkey's 'Kaan' fighter jet seen during runway tests at its facilities in Ankara, March 17, 2023

Trump’s Muslim Brotherhood policy collides with Erdogan - opinion

Donald Trump will have to choose which side of history he is on as a collision between principle and power is coming.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026ByLIRON ROSE, AMIT SHABI

Abdul Hamid Thunaibat of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, speaks as he addresses people gathered to pay condolences after the killing of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, at the headquarters of Jordan's Islamic Action Front, in Amman, Jordan January 3, 2024

Erdogan: Turkey working hard to prevent new Middle East war over US-Iran tensions

Speaking to reporters on a return flight from a visit to Egypt, Erdogan added that talks at the level of the US and Iranian leadership would be helpful after lower-level nuclear negotiations.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026ByREUTERS

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on January 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Why America's Western lens fails to understand Middle East dynamics - opinion

The Middle East rewards power, clarity, and patience, and the US must learn to play by those rules. If they act desperate for deals and photo opportunities, then that is all they will get.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026ByERIC R. MANDEL

US President Donald Trump seen over an illustrative image of American-Iranian ties (illustrative)

Erdogan arrives in Cairo after Riyadh talks, raising concerns in Israel - analysis

Turkish President expected to discuss regional developments, including Gaza and Libya.

FEBRUARY 4, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Fourteen migrants die off Greece after boat collides with coast guard

A coastguard official said they spotted a dingy transporting migrants towards Chios, which lies a few miles off the coast of Turkey, and ordered them to turn back.

FEBRUARY 4, 2026ByREUTERS

Greek emergency personnel wait to transfer bodies of dead migrants, following migrant’s boat collision with coast guard off the island of Chios, in the port of Chios, Greece, February 3, 2026.

The Top 5 Dental Clinics in Turkey for 2026

FEBRUARY 3, 2026ByHANNAH SCHWARTZ