• Turkey deploying special forces to border amid migrant surge

    Turkey deploying special forces to border amid migrant surge

    Mar 05, 2020 03:24 PM EDT

    Erdogan, whose country currently houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, had frequently threatened to open Turkey's borders and send migrants and refugees into Europe. He maintains the EU has not upheld its end of a more than 6 billion euro deal designed to stem the flow of ...

  • Child dies as migrants rush to cross Greece-Turkey border

    Child dies as migrants rush to cross Greece-Turkey border

    Mar 02, 2020 02:14 PM EDT

    ... the island’s main town of Mytilene were being taken to the island’s main port for processing there in makeshift facilities instead of Moria. Turkey’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, said Sunday the fighting in Idlib was directly linked to Turkey's decision to open the gates for refugees ...

  • Turkey, Syria fighting escalates; refugees mass at borders

    Turkey, Syria fighting escalates; refugees mass at borders

    Mar 01, 2020 04:23 PM EDT

    ... Referring to losses inflicted on Syria, he said Turkey had “neutralized” more than 2,200 Syrian troops, 103 tanks and eight helicopters. The operation is Turkey's fourth in the war-torn country since 2016.Altun, the Turkish communications director, claimed 80,888 migrants had left Turkey for Europe “in ...

  • As fighting between Syria and Turkey escalates, Idlib faces mounting humanitarian crisis

    As fighting between Syria and Turkey escalates, Idlib faces mounting humanitarian crisis

    Feb 28, 2020 11:43 PM EDT

    ... If the Syrian regime and its Russian and Iranian allies are in charge, then we have no option but to go to Turkey, and, from Turkey, go to Europe. Nick Schifrin: But, in Turkey, Syrian refugees who have spent months or years sheltering are trying to enter Greece, after Turkey ...

  • Turkey, Russia seek to defuse tensions in Syria as migrants push west

    Turkey, Russia seek to defuse tensions in Syria as migrants push west

    Feb 28, 2020 10:19 PM EDT

    ... direct support and has accused Syria of breaking a 2018 agreement to reduce the conflict in Idlib. Russia and Syrian President Bashar Assad have said Turkey has failed to honor a deal to separate extremist groups from other fighters in the region. Wilks reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers ...

  • Turkey threatens to let refugees into Europe as violence escalates in Syria

    Turkey threatens to let refugees into Europe as violence escalates in Syria

    Feb 28, 2020 12:11 PM EDT

    “Some asylum seekers and migrants in our country, worried about developments, have begun to move towards our western borders,” he said. “If the situation worsens, this risk will continue to increase.” However, he added that there was “no change” in Turkey’s migration policy. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ...

  • News Wrap: Turkey says 29 soldiers killed in Syrian airstrike on Idlib

    News Wrap: Turkey says 29 soldiers killed in Syrian airstrike on Idlib

    Feb 27, 2020 11:45 PM EDT

    In our news wrap Thursday, a major new military clash erupted between Turkey and Syria, with at least 29 Turkish soldiers reportedly killed in an airstrike on northwestern Syria’s Idlib province. Also, in India, the death toll from this week’s rioting between Hindus and Muslims reached 32. Security ...

  • Nine dead in Turkey as 5.7 earthquake strikes western Iran

    Nine dead in Turkey as 5.7 earthquake strikes western Iran

    Feb 23, 2020 03:50 PM EDT

    ANKARA, Turkey — Nine people were killed in Turkey in a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that struck western Iran early Sunday morning, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said. The quake centered west of the Iranian city of Khoy and affected villages in the Turkish province of Van. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman ...

  • Turkey, Russia to discuss grave situation in Syria's Idlib

    Turkey, Russia to discuss grave situation in Syria's Idlib

    Feb 15, 2020 07:36 PM EDT

    ... of humanitarian concern for the people of Idlib and as a matter of basic avoidance of another refugee crisis, is firm pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to stop,” he said. He urged Europe to exert that pressure.Associated Press writer Ipek Yezdani in Ankara, Turkey contributed to this report.

  • Turkey retaliates against Syrian forces, killing 5

    Turkey retaliates against Syrian forces, killing 5

    Feb 10, 2020 08:22 PM EDT

    ... death toll was likely to rise. The Turkish offensive has aimed at pushing Kurdish fighters away from the border. Those Kurdish fighters had been key U.S. allies in the fight against the Islamic State group. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish fighters terrorists linked to a Kurdish insurgency within Turkey.