The Levant Files

Turkey's government is scrambling to contain political damage after Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan publicly acknowledged that the country's flagship KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet project cannot proceed without American cooperation, exposing critical vulnerabilities in Turkey's defense ambitions despite years of rhetoric about military self-sufficiency. According to a report by Amberin Zaman in Al Monitor, the admission has triggered a political firestorm in Turkey, with critics arguing that Fidan's candid remarks underscore the fundamental challenges facing Turkey's armed forces and highlight the nation's continued dependence on Western suppliers, despite ambitious domestic production goals. Speaking at a New York press conference over the weekend, Fidan revealed that US sanctions imposed under the 2019 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) have created "a systemic problem that blocks the trade of defense systems between two...

Syrian Democratic Forces members dismiss statements from Ahmed al-Shara, whose background includes ties to Nusra, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS, asserting that taking power in Damascus doesn't mean governing all of Syria. According to a report by the ANF news agency, fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have firmly rejected recent statements by Syria's Transitional Government President Ahmed al-Shara (formerly known as Jolani), who claimed that the SDF does not represent the Kurdish people. The diverse coalition of fighters emphasized that they represent not only Kurds but also Alevi, Syriac, Arab, Druze, and Armenian communities across Syria. "We do not accept or take seriously the statements of a person with past ties to Nusra, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS as representing Syria's ethnic structure," said Stêra Dêrik, an SDF fighter from Dêrik. "The fact that a person whose past practice was to massacre Syrian people is now taking power in Damascus does not mean he ca...

  Turkish authorities have uncovered a sophisticated ISIS-Khorasan (ISKP) operation involving Central Asian militants using Turkey as a strategic hub, with two suspected terrorists arrested after being tracked from the popular tourist destination of Bodrum to an Istanbul safe house. According to reporting by Hale Gönültaş in Kısa Dalga, a new indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reveals that militants from Central Asian countries have been actively operating in Turkey, establishing networks particularly in Istanbul while moving freely using fake identities and passports. The investigation highlights Turkey's emergence as a critical transit and operational base for one of ISIS's most dangerous branches. The two main suspects, 26-year-old Tajik national Hikmat Naimov and 25-year-old Azerbaijani Khamis Rahmanov, first drew intelligence attention in May 2024 when they were spotted staying at the same hotel in Bodrum, Muğla Province. This seaside ...

Israeli and Palestinian media outlets have presented starkly different perspectives on U.S. President Donald Trump's newly unveiled 21-point plan for Gaza, highlighting the enduring chasm between both sides even as international efforts to end the conflict intensify. According to a Jerusalem Post editorial published on September 30, the Israeli press has broadly endorsed Trump's proposal as a pragmatic pathway to peace. The editorial board argues that the plan "accomplishes all three" critical objectives: saving lives immediately, determining Gaza's future governance, and preventing terrorism's return. The Israeli perspective emphasizes the plan's "unmistakable moral core," particularly its guarantee that "within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned." In contrast, Palestinian media outlet Al-Quds has taken a markedly skeptical stance toward what Trump described as an ...

As negotiations for ending the Gaza war face mounting obstacles, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has developed an alternative approach that could potentially break the current impasse. The new proposal suggests immediately accepting agreed-upon points while continuing negotiations on contentious issues, aiming to create momentum for hostage releases and reduce tensions enough to enable productive dialogue between Israel and Hamas. According to a report by Danny Zaken, published in Israel Hayom on September 29, Witkoff's "Plan B" emerges as the primary 21-point proposal, encountering significant resistance from both sides. While the comprehensive plan addresses root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, disagreements over key issues, particularly Hamas's disarmament and Israel's withdrawal timeline, threaten to derail the entire process. The Proposal The current proposal, despite being called the "21-point plan," actually contains more provisions an...

Former Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Sönmez Köksal has made striking revelations about Turkey's evolving approach to the PKK and regional politics in an extensive interview published on September 29, 2025. The retired ambassador, who served as MIT chief from 1992-1998, suggested that PKK leaders could eventually participate in Turkish politics following Abdullah Öcalan's recent designation as a "founding leader." According to the interview conducted by journalist Cansu Çamlıbel for the T24 news outlet, Köksal stated that "after Öcalan has become a 'founding leader,' it's impossible to imagine these people not engaging in politics in Turkey." He specifically mentioned PKK commanders Murat Karayılan, Cemil Bayık, and Bese Hozat as figures who could potentially transition to political roles, noting that "the initial scenario was like this anyway - whether figures like Karayılan, Bayık, and Hozat come to Turkey to eng...

A comprehensive security and privacy manual issued by ISIS to its militants and sympathizers has been uncovered, revealing detailed instructions for operational security, intelligence gathering, and behavior during detention. The document, which surfaced on September 29, provides insight into the terror organization's evolving tactics and paranoid security measures. According to Turkish news outlet Kısa Dalga, the message first appeared on jihadist forums on the dark web before briefly circulating in Turkish on a messaging application. The account was quickly deactivated after the document was discovered. The instructions were published alongside flags of 60 countries, including Turkey, suggesting the global scope of ISIS's operational ambitions. The manual emphasizes the importance of seasonal timing for attacks, explicitly recommending increased operations during winter months when "security forces are very busy," while advising reduced activity in the summer. Among...

China's strategic campaign against Israel has intensified dramatically since the October 7 Hamas attacks, with Beijing leveraging its control over critical Israeli infrastructure, supporting Iran militarily and economically, and spreading anti-Israel propaganda across digital platforms, security experts warn. According to a comprehensive investigation by Ynet , China has embedded itself deeply into Israel's national infrastructure over the past decade, acquiring operational control of the Haifa Bay Port through state-owned SIPG and installing surveillance equipment throughout the country, despite repeated warnings from American allies and domestic security officials about the risks to national security. The shift in China-Israel relations became publicly evident when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused Beijing of waging a "cognitive battle" against Israel, marking a rare moment of open confrontation between the two nations. This diplomatic tension repre...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's White House meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday marked a potential turning point in bilateral relations, with both leaders signaling progress on contentious defense issues and announcing significant commercial agreements. The summit produced optimistic statements about lifting sanctions related to Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems and rekindled discussions about Turkey rejoining the F-35 fighter jet program, though substantial obstacles remain. According to reporting by Barin Kayaoglu for Al-Monitor, the meeting underscored both leaders' personal chemistry while highlighting the limits of what the partnership can deliver. The talks covered trade, defense sales, and regional conflicts, with Trump describing the discussions as "very conclusive in so many different things." The most concrete outcome emerged Friday when Turkish Airlines finalized a major Boeing deal worth approximately $40 billio...

As winter approaches, Turkey's energy debate once again takes center stage. A fresh wave of agreements, cautious optimism, and geopolitical tension swirls around Ankara's handling of natural gas and nuclear investments. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's recent visit to the United States generated headlines about new long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals, but left experts wondering: Is Turkey truly shifting its energy axis, or merely trying to keep the lights on?   According to Haber Sol, the much-discussed U.S. trip included a set of contracts between Turkey's state energy company BOTAŞ and global energy giants Mercuria and Woodside Energy, securing up to 70 billion cubic meters of U.S.-sourced LNG over the next two decades. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar described the agreements as a guarantee of long-term supply during peak-demand periods. Yet analysts caution against reading this as a sweeping realignment. "Turkey is still tethered to pipeline gas,...

In a renewed show of defiance to both domestic and international pressure, MP Hussein al-Hajj Hassan, head of the Baalbek–Hermel parliamentary bloc, declared that Hezbollah’s weapons “will neither be handed over nor dismantled,” reiterating the party’s long-held position that its arsenal is non-negotiable.   According to the Al Akhbar , speaking at a ceremony in Baalbek marking the first anniversary of the death of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hajj Hassan maintained that far from being weakened, the resistance movement had emerged “more determined, resilient, and steadfast” despite the loss of senior figures and militants. “The resistance today demonstrates greater loyalty and stronger bonds with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his legacy,” he affirmed.   The MP dismissed mounting regional and Western calls to disarm Hezbollah, arguing that the real threat lies not in the group’s weapons, but in “Israel’s aggression and America’s hegemonic projects.” Addressing commen...

Istanbul's imprisoned metropolitan mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, has broken his silence with a powerful letter from his jail cell, detailing his daily life in isolation while maintaining unwavering hope for Turkey's democratic future. Writing for Turkish news outlet T24, İmamoğlu revealed that he is being held in a 12-square-meter cell in Prison No. 9, where he continues to work on plans for Turkey's future despite harsh conditions. The popular opposition figure, seen as a potential presidential challenger, described his situation as a result of "a judiciary system that signs not for justice, but directly to punish." The mayor's daily routine begins at 7:30 AM, with the courtyard gate opening at 8 AM, slightly expanding his confined space. Without access to technology, İmamoğlu spends his days reading, writing by hand, and meeting with lawyers, family members, and special visitors, including regular visits from CHP (Republican People's Party) leader Özgür Özel. ...

The protracted nuclear dispute between Iran and Western powers has reached a critical juncture following the activation of the trigger mechanism on October 4, marking what Tehran views as the West's abandonment of diplomatic engagement. This development signals the return of six UN Security Council sanction resolutions imposed between 2006 and 2010, despite Iran's consistent efforts to maintain diplomatic channels and demonstrate its commitment to peaceful nuclear activities. According to Nournews, a media outlet close to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the Islamic Republic has maintained its readiness for negotiations through various diplomatic initiatives hosted by countries including Qatar and Egypt over the past year. The outlet emphasizes that while Iran, alongside global powers like China and Russia, has made considerable efforts to preserve diplomatic pathways, Western countries have systematically avoided returning to meaningful negotiations, ultimately cr...

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has faced severe criticism from Greek commentators following his attendance at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly, where he was among the limited number of diplomats who chose not to boycott the address. The President's policies and diplomatic stance have sparked intense debate about Cyprus's position on international law and occupation. According to an analysis by Dimitris Christopoulos, published in the Greek news outlet News247, the Cypriot leader's approach represents a dangerous contradiction that undermines Cyprus's own claims regarding the Turkish occupation of the island's northern territory. Christopoulos argues that the "Israel-Cyprus-Greece triangle" functioning as an anti-Turkish axis completely undermines the legally sound Greek and Cypriot arguments that have educated two generations about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. During his UN General Assembly addr...

Kıbrıs Cumhurbaşkanı Nikos Christodoulides, birçok ülkenin diplomatik boykot uyguladığı İsrail Başbakanı Benjamin Netanyahu'nun Birleşmiş Milletler (BM) Genel Kurulu'ndaki konuşmasına katılarak, sınırlı sayıdaki diplomat arasında yer alması nedeniyle Yunanistanlı yorumculardan şiddetli eleştirilere hedef oluyor. Cumhurbaşkanının politikaları ve diplomatik duruşu, adanın uluslararası hukuk ile işgal konusundaki tutumunu sorgulayan yoğun tartışmaları körüklüyor.   Yunan haber platformu News247’de yayımlanan Dimitris Christopoulos’un inceleme yazısına göre, Kıbrıslı liderin bu yaklaşımı, adanın kuzeyini işgal altında tutan Türkiye karşısındaki meşru iddialarını zayıflatacak tehlikeli bir çelişki yaratıyor. Christopoulos, "İsrail-Kıbrıs-Yunanistan üçgeni"nin Türkiye karşıtı bir eksen olarak işlev görmesinin, Türklerin Kıbrıs’ı işgalini konu alan ve iki nesli meşgul eden yasal Yunan-Kıbrıs argümanlarını temelden sarsacağını savunuyor.   24 Eylül 2025’teki BM konuşmasında ...

Pro-Kurdish news agency ANHA has issued a stark warning about the emergence of "uncontrolled factions affiliated with the Defense Ministry in the Damascus government" operating in Aleppo, following a recent attack on Kurdish-majority neighborhoods. The agency's analysis highlights growing concerns about armed groups acting with impunity under the Syrian Transitional Government's military umbrella. According to ANHA (Hawar News Agency), these warnings come after the General Command of Internal Security Forces in Aleppo issued an official statement on September 22, 2025, regarding an attack on security points in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods. The statement, cited by ANHA, explicitly described the perpetrators as belonging to "uncontrolled factions affiliated with the Defense Ministry in the Damascus government," raising alarm about the lack of accountability and command structure within the new government's military apparatus. The attack resul...

A damning revelation has exposed the shameful state of Turkish journalism, as reporters accompanying President Erdoğan on his return flight from Washington were caught using pre-scripted questions in what was presented as a spontaneous press interaction. The scandal unveils a troubling collusion between the Presidential Communications Directorate and supposedly independent journalists. Veteran journalist Hasan Cemal, writing for T24, expressed his dismay at the revelation, stating he “never imagined journalism could sink to such depths” in his 56-year career. Cemal emphasized that “journalism exists through asking questions” and called this incident a betrayal of the profession’s core principles, noting that even during military coups and previous administrations, journalists maintained their integrity by asking tough, unscripted questions. The scandal was uncovered when Media Ombudsman Faruk Bildirici received the exact list of questions—complete with reporters’ names—hours before th...

Tehran has begun reconstructing key military facilities destroyed during the recent Israel-Iran War, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to schedule urgent discussions on how to respond to these developments. Satellite imagery published Thursday by the Associated Press reveals active reconstruction at the Parchin and Shahroud missile bases, raising alarm in Washington and Jerusalem about Iran’s renewed nuclear and missile ambitions. According to an Israeli source who spoke to The Jerusalem Post on Friday, the reconstruction efforts have sped up concerns about Iran’s attempts to restore its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. The two leaders will discuss potential responses to Tehran’s rebuilding campaign, with both nations having previously vowed to prevent any revival of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Intelligence analysts are closely monitoring the rapid reconstruction at facilities that were strategically targeted and destroyed by Isra...

Azerbaijani authorities have arrested prominent petrol magnate Adnan Ahmadzada on charges related to contaminating the country’s prized Azeri Light crude oil with inferior petroleum products from different sources, while investigations also probe his alleged business connections with Russia and potential involvement in sanctions evasion schemes. The former SOCAR official’s detention marks a significant development in Azerbaijan’s energy sector, raising questions about corruption and foreign influence in the nation’s vital oil industry. According to OC Media , Ahmadzada’s lawyer, Shaig Mirzayev, has refused to reveal the specific charges against his client, citing confidentiality requirements during the investigation process. The lawyer confirmed Ahmadzada remains in good health and has not been subjected to physical violence while in custody. Baku’s Sabail District Court ordered Ahmadzada to four months of pre-trial detention on Saturday, with the case being handled by Azerbaijan’s Sta...

Turkey, Syria and Jordan have agreed on a draft memorandum of understanding to revive the century-old Hejaz Railway, launching a project that could reshape regional transport links, boost tourism and reopen trade corridors disrupted by conflict. According to The National, the draft MoU was signed during a meeting in Amman on September 12, and assigns Turkey to draft an overarching plan and to rebuild roughly 30 kilometres of a missing Syrian section, while Jordan will study locomotive maintenance and the three states will examine improved Turkish access to the Red Sea via the Port of Aqaba. Construction of the Hejaz Railway began in 1900 on the orders of Sultan Abdulhamid II. By 1908, the line linked Damascus to Madinah, cutting a caravan journey of about 40 days to roughly three days and branching west toward Haifa. The Ottoman-era route was damaged during World War I and further fragmented during later uprisings and the collapse of the empire. Officials say the project combines herit...