Who’s with the US on Syria airstrike and who isn’t

With conflicting interests and competing global powers, the international community remains at an impasse over Syria's six-year conflict. On Friday morning local time, the US military struck a Syrian airbase in response to a chemical weapons attack, bringing mixed reaction from global players.

Terrorists for Turkey, heroes for US and Russia

When the insignia of the People's Protection Units , a red star on a yellow triangle - a version of the symbol of many left-wing militant organizations around the world - first appeared as badges on the arms of the U.S. Special Forces in Syria in May 2016, the Turkish government was furious about it. The speculation then was that the U.S. Central Command had deliberately allowed those photos to be leaked to the press so that the Turkish army would not hit the YPG militants who were collaborating with U.S. forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant , or DEASH in Arabic.

Flynn to Trump team: ‘I am foreign agent’

An attorney for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn told President Donald Trump's transition team before the inauguration that Flynn might register with the government as a foreign agent, White House officials acknowledged. According to a person with knowledge of the discussions, Flynn's representatives also had a second conversation with the White House counsel's office after the inauguration and made clear the national security adviser would indeed be registering with the Justice Department.

Trump lawyers knew Flynn might register as foreign agent

An attorney for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn told President Donald Trump's transition team before the inauguration that Flynn might register with the government as a foreign agent, White House officials acknowledged. According to a person with knowledge of the discussions, Flynn's representatives also had a second conversation with the White House counsel's office after the inauguration and made clear the national security adviser would indeed be registering with the Justice Department.

White House: Trump unaware of Flynn’s foreign agent work

President Donald Trump was not aware that his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had worked to further the interests of the government of Turkey before appointing him, the White House says. The comments came two days after Flynn and his firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., filed paperwork with the Justice Department formally identifying him as a foreign agent and acknowledging that his work for a company owned by a Turkish businessman could have aided Turkey's government.

White House: Trump unaware of Flynna s foreign agent work

President Donald Trump was not aware that his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had worked to further the interests of the government of Turkey before appointing him, the White House says. The comments came two days after Flynn and his firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., filed paperwork with the Justice Department formally identifying him as a foreign agent and acknowledging that his work for a company owned by a Turkish businessman could have aided Turkey's government.

Former Trump aide Flynn says lobbying may have helped Turkey

" President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who was fired from his prominent White House job last month, has registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent for $530,000 worth of lobbying work before Election Day that may have aided the Turkish government. Paperwork filed Tuesday with the Justice Department's Foreign Agent Registration Unit said Flynn and his firm were voluntarily registering for lobbying from August through November that "could be construed to have principally benefited the Republic of Turkey."

DODEA Europe seniors among nation’s top student leaders in D.C.

Two American students attending Defense Department schools overseas are getting a close-up look at the federal government this week while meeting some of the country's top leaders. Seniors John Casey of Ramstein High School and Emma Rook of Ankara High School in Turkey are representing the Department of Defense Education Activity in the 55th annual United States Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C., a program for the nation's top student leaders.

US must work with Turkey on Syria, says US senator McCain

The U.S.-Turkey partnership must be revitalized under the Donald Trump administration, Republican Senator John McCain said on Feb. 20 after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan. "I had a warm and constructive meeting with President ErdoAYan today.

Russia urges caution on US plan for safe zones in Syria

The Trump administration's expressed interest in setting up safe zones for civilians in Syria was greeted Thursday with caution by Russia and Turkey, which have taken the lead in the latest peace efforts to end the Mideast country's devastating six-year war. Turkey said it had always supported the idea, but both Ankara and Moscow warned such plans would require careful consideration.

Turkey to ‘intensify diplomacy’ with US after Trump enters White House

Ankara is planning to engage in more intense diplomacy with the U.S. under Donald Trump's incoming administration, amid news that a Turkish presidential delegation is set to visit Washington D.C. in February to contact the new administration. President-elect Trump will take over the presidency from Barack Obama on Jan. 20, heralding a new and uncertain era in U.S. ties with the international community.

Erdogan vows to ‘destroy threats’ after Istanbul gunman kills 39

Turkey's president vowed to "destroy threats" targeting the nation after a gunman opened fire inside a popular Istanbul nightclub, killing at least 39 people, including 15 foreigners - an act of terrorism that has become grimly familiar in Turkey. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest in a string of assaults that have multiplied as Turkey steps up its war against Islamic State and Kurdish militants.

After violence abroad, Trump meeting with security adviser

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to meet with his incoming national security adviser in the aftermath of a rattling day of violence around the world. Trump appeared to jump ahead of investigators in blaming Islamic terrorists for deadly incidents Monday in Turkey and Germany and vowing anew to eradicate their regional and global networks.

Erdogan’s Koza Group Power Grab Spills Into U.K. Courts

Koza Altin Isletmeleri AS sued its parent in British courts to block the Turkish government from taking control of the company after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan started to crack down on suspected sympathizers of a failed army coup. Akin Ipek, a tycoon whose family owns Koza Altin and other businesses in Turkey, claims that dozens of trustees with close ties to Erdogan were unlawfully appointed by the company in a plot to wrest control through orders from government-appointed judges.

Turkey, Russia seek truce in Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday that his country and Russia want a cease-fire in Syria, where the two nations support opposing camps in the conflict. Speaking alongside Sergey Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, in a Turkish resort town, Cavusoglu said, "We are in agreement that a cease-fire is needed so that the tragedy can come to an end."