Turkish FM says Syria and Iraq must jointly struggle against terrorism

September 16th, 2009 Syrian president in Turkey for talks on IsraelANKARA, Turkey — Turkey encouraged Syria on Wednesday to think of ways to revive the stalled peace talks with Israel, but the Syrian president said Israel does not appear to be a partner in the process. Syrian President Bashar Assad sat down with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul to consider how to restart the talks.

September 16th, 2009 Iraqi official: Talks with Syria over attacks failBAGHDAD, Iraq — Talks between Iraq and Syria over Iraqi charges that Damascus is harboring militants involved in deadly bombings in Baghdad have failed and will not be repeated, the Iraqi government spokesman said on Wednesday. The talks in Ankara, Turkey, aimed at easing tensions between the two neighbors collapsed after Syria refused to accept a list of people Iraq wants extradited for their alleged involvement in a recent spate of bombings, including an Aug.

September 9th, 2009 Stormy Iraq-Syria talks on militants issueCAIRO — The foreign ministers of Iraq and Syria had a heated exchange, trading accusations Wednesday in a failed attempt to resolve a deepening split over Iraqi claims that Syria is harboring Sunni militants behind a recent flareup in violence. The Iraqi government says Syria-based loyalists of ousted leader Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida fighters were behind a bomb attack in Baghdad last month that killed more than 100 people.

September 3rd, 2009 Turkey says more water for Iraq, Syria is unlikelyANKARA, Turkey — A water rights battle over the historic Tigris and Euphrates rivers simmered Thursday, as Iraq and Syria appealed for increased water flows to cope with severe drought but Turkey said it was already too overstretched. Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Turkey's southeast region was also suffering from low rainfall and drought but the country was still releasing more water than it was legally obligated to its neighbors out of humanitarian concerns.

September 3rd, 2009 Turkey, Iraq and Syria tussle over water rightsANKARA, Turkey — Tensions rose Thursday in a water rights battle over the historic Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as Iraq and Syria appealed for more water amid a severe drought but Turkey said it was already too overstretched to do that. The issue threatens to disrupt the newly warm relations between Turkey and its neighbors and complicate wider efforts to bring stability to the region, as the populations of the three countries increase and the demand for water grows.

August 31st, 2009 Syria leader rejects Iraq claim of aiding violenceDAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's president on Monday dismissed Iraqi accusations that his country has been used as a launching pad for violence in Iraq, calling the allegations "immoral" and politically motivated. Iraq and Syria are entangled in a diplomatic dispute over demands that Damascus extradite two suspects wanted in recent suicide attacks on government ministries in Baghdad that killed about 100 people.

August 11th, 2009 US, Syria resuming talks about 'stability' in IraqWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is sending a delegation to Syria for talks this week on ways to stem the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq. The talks may also deal with prospects for Mideast peacemaking.

May 14th, 2009 Treasury targets al-Qaida in Iraq operativeWASHINGTON — The Obama administration moved Thursday to clamp down financially on the Syria-based leader of al-Qaida in Iraq. The Treasury Department's action against Abu Khalaf means that any bank accounts or other financial assets found in the United States that belong to him must be frozen.

April 30th, 2009 Turkish warplanes hit Kurd rebel targets in IraqANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's military says its warplanes struck Kurdish rebel targets overnight in northern Iraq. A military statement says Air Force jets bombed targets in the Iraqi border regions of Zap and Avasin-Basyan on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

April 27th, 2009 ANKARA - Turkey Monday started its first joint military training exercise with neighbouring Syria, the Turkish general staff said. The small-scale training exercises focussed on border protection and will last until Wednesday, said a spokesman for the general staff.

April 27th, 2009 Turkey, Syria conduct military drillANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish military said it launched a joint drill with Syrian soldiers on their shared border Monday in order to improve security. Israel, an ally of Turkey and a longtime foe of Syria, expressed concern.

April 6th, 2009 ANKARA - US President Barack Obama arrived in Turkey Sunday on an official visit that would see him fulfilling a pledge to visit the Muslim nation in his first 100 days in office. Obama was expected to seek to emphasize his administration's new approaches to regional problems in talks with Turkish leaders President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara Monday.

February 12th, 2009 ANKARA - Thirteen Kurdish rebels were killed in Turkish air force raids last week on Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) camps in northern Iraq, a spokesman for the Turkish General Staff said Friday. The spokesman said a number of Turkish jets had carried out bombing missions during the week on suspected PKK logistic targets in the Hukurk region of mountainous northern Iraq.

February 5th, 2009 ANKARA - Turkish planes have carried out air strikes against Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq, the Anatolia news agency reported Friday quoting the Turkish General Staff. General Staff Communication Department Chief General Metin Gurak said that Turkish planes hit PKK targets in Hakurk region Feb 4-5.

December 27th, 2008 ANKARA - Turkish jets have struck several targets of the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the Turkish army said Sunday. Sources in the army said it carried out several operations Saturday and Sunday, targeting the PKK along the Turkish-Iraqi border.