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TLF Special: Turkey Begins Training Pilots for Syria’s New Air Force

Turkey has launched a training program for Syrian pilots as part of efforts to rebuild the Syrian Arab Republic’s armed forces following the collapse of the Baath regime, according to exclusive reports obtained by Levant Files. Reliable sources confirm that the first group of Syrian officers has already arrived in Turkey and commenced training at Turkish military facilities. Under a recent agreement between Turkey and Syria’s transitional government, the Turkish Air Force will oversee the training of cadets for Syria’s new Air Force. The program is reportedly being conducted in Konya and other Turkish military bases. In the coming months, the Turkish Navy and Land Forces are also expected to begin training Syrian recruits for their respective military branches. This initiative marks a significant step in expanding defense cooperation between the two nations. Since the fall of the Baath regime, Turkey and Syria have strengthened ties in key strategic areas, including energy, trade, and ...
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Turkey to Maintain Firm Stance on Cyprus Issue at Upcoming UN Talks

Well-informed Turkish sources indicate that Ankara will maintain its established position during the upcoming informal Cyprus summit in New York, reiterating its view that a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution is no longer feasible. According to sources speaking to The Levant Files, Turkish officials argue that the Greek Cypriot side demonstrated an unwillingness to share power and resources during the failed 2017 Crans-Montana negotiations.   "Greek Cypriots have made their position clear—they refuse to share governance and Cyprus's wealth with Turkish Cypriots. This necessitates a new approach," a Turkish official stated, while emphasizing that Ankara remains open to alternative frameworks for regional cooperation.   Turkey continues to frame the Cyprus issue within the broader context of Greek-Turkish relations, stressing the need for a balanced resolution in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Ankara insists that any regional cooperation—including equitable resourc...
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Turkey Escalates Crackdown on Opposition Mayors in Corruption Probes

Turkey has intensified its clampdown on opposition figures, with Manavgat Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara arrested on July 8, amid a series of corruption investigations targeting municipalities led by the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The arrests of prominent opposition mayors and officials have fueled allegations of political persecution by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government as the 2028 elections loom. Kara, detained on July 4 with 34 others, faces bribery, abuse of office, and embezzlement charges. On July 8, he and 30 other suspects were brought to Manavgat Courthouse following police interrogations. A video purportedly showing Deputy Mayor Mehmet Engin Tüter accepting a 110,000-euro bribe concealed in a pastry box led to his arrest alongside Municipal Council member Burak Çeker. Tüter admitted to taking the money but claimed it was a commission, not municipal funds. The probe, triggered by a contractor’s tip, has resulted in 41 detentions, with two suspects still at large. In a ...
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Saudi Arabia Faces Global Outcry Over Surge in Executions of Foreigners for Drug Crimes

Saudi Arabia has come under intense criticism for executing a staggering number of individuals, primarily foreign nationals, for non-violent drug offenses over the past decade. A recent report from Amnesty International reveals that nearly 600 people have been put to death since 2015 for drug-related crimes, with three-quarters of them coming from countries including Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, and Egypt. Published on July 8, by Tom Levitt, the report condemns what Amnesty describes as a “horrifying” wave of capital punishments characterized by grossly unfair trials and a chilling disregard for human life. The findings highlight a sharp escalation in executions following a brief moratorium on drug-related death penalties between 2021 and 2022. In 2024, Saudi Arabia executed 122 individuals for drug offenses, with 118 executions recorded in the first half of 2025. Dana Ahmed, Amnesty’s Middle East researcher, stated to The Guardian , “We are witnessing a deeply alarming trend, with...
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France and Turkey in Diplomatic Firestorm Over Arrests of Opposition Mayors

A sharp diplomatic dispute has erupted between France and Turkey following a series of high-profile arrests of opposition mayors in Turkey, threatening to strain further the already fraught relationship between the two NATO allies. Paris issued a statement expressing grave concern over what it sees as a crackdown on democracy, prompting a furious rebuke from Ankara, which accused France of gross interference and hypocrisy. The row ignited after France condemned the detention of several prominent political figures. According to a new statement from the Foreign Ministry of France, the government expressed its "deep concern following the arrests of several opposition officials on July 5, including the mayors of Adana, Antalya, and Adıyaman." The French ministry noted that these actions follow the jailing of Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, over three months ago and the arrest of municipal members in Izmir on July 1. The statement concluded by affirming that "r...
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Egypt Deepens China Ties with Huawei Pact Amid Energy Crisis

Facing a severe energy crisis and economic instability, Egypt is intensifying its partnership with Chinese tech giant Huawei to revamp its renewable energy and digital infrastructure. The move comes as Cairo grapples with dwindling domestic gas production and the recent disruption of critical energy imports from Israel, pushing the nation to seek reliable alternatives to bolster its economy. This strategic pivot eastward reflects a broader shift in global geopolitics. As reported in the newsletter' As Sisi avoids Washington visit, Egypt courts China's tech giant Huawei' by analysts Joyce Karam and Rosaleen Carrol l, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has made state visits to both Russia and China in recent years while forgoing a trip to Washington, signaling a deliberate diversification of foreign partnerships. The collaboration with Huawei is multifaceted. Following a visit by Egypt's Minister of Electricity to Shenzhen, plans were discussed for upgrading the nati...
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Trump Pushes for Gaza Ceasefire in Netanyahu Meeting, Aiming to Revive Abraham Accords

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House tomorrow for a high-stakes meeting where a potential ceasefire in Gaza will dominate the agenda. The meeting comes as Israel’s devastating military operation continues, with sources indicating that Trump aims to broker a deal that would not only halt the fighting but also reinforce his image as a peacemaker on the global stage. According to analysis by prominent Turkish journalist and commentator Fehim Taştekin , the diplomatic push is layered with strategic objectives far beyond immediate humanitarian concerns. Taştekin argues that while the U.S. is Israel's primary military and political backer in the conflict—a role he describes as hypocritical given the "peace-man" posturing—the true motivation for a ceasefire is to revive and expand the Abraham Accords. He posits that a halt in the fighting is a necessary precondition to bring Saudi Arabia into the normalization ag...
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