1 month ago
By Alexander Cornwell and Tuvan Gumrukcu
JERUSALEM/ANKARA, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Israel accused Turkey of "dangerous adventures in Syria" on Thursday, while Ankara called for a halt to "reckless" Israeli attacks, two days after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase where it said Turkish troops were about to deploy.
The attack has brought into focus tensions between regional powers Turkey and Israel over Syria, an Arab state which borders both countries and where Ankara's influence as an ally of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has stirred Israeli alarm since he toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Israel said that Damascus was on the verge of allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the Abu al-Duhur airbase and had ignored Israeli warnings that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security - a claim denied by Turkey.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, in comments to Axios on Wednesday, said he had made clear to Israel there were no plans to establish a Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur.
#ankara #syria #airbase #troops
JERUSALEM/ANKARA, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Israel accused Turkey of "dangerous adventures in Syria" on Thursday, while Ankara called for a halt to "reckless" Israeli attacks, two days after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase where it said Turkish troops were about to deploy.
The attack has brought into focus tensions between regional powers Turkey and Israel over Syria, an Arab state which borders both countries and where Ankara's influence as an ally of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has stirred Israeli alarm since he toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Israel said that Damascus was on the verge of allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the Abu al-Duhur airbase and had ignored Israeli warnings that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security - a claim denied by Turkey.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, in comments to Axios on Wednesday, said he had made clear to Israel there were no plans to establish a Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur.
#ankara #syria #airbase #troops
2 months ago
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City sits on what is thought to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Now, researchers have found evidence that they say may prove it's in the right place, including the remains of 2,000-year-old grape vines and olive trees that could be significant because the Gospel of John speaks of a garden at the time of Jesus. NBC's Keir Simmons reports with an exclusive look for TODAY from the Garden of Gethsemane.
#john
#john
2 months ago
CARACAS (AP) — Venezuelans are watching the start of a round of U.S.-backed talks between the ruling party and the opposition on Saturday with cautious optimism after several previous negotiations failed to bring reconciliation.
The latest talks follow the January capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, and will focus on strengthening democracy and restoring rights after nearly three decades of socialist rule.
The talks will be led by members of Venezuela's overwhelmingly pro-government National **** embly and a group of former opposition lawmakers who previously attempted to oust Maduro. U.S. officials say they will have a facilitating role.
"I hope these people (the government) finally understand that we won't move forward with the usual arbitrary actions; they must respect agreements," said Soraida Martínez, a 58-year-old homemaker. "Both sides need to make concessions for the good of the country."
Saturday's meeting comes nearly seven weeks after a gathering in Caracas between National **** embly chief Jorge Rodríguez — the brother of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez — and former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera, who briefly returned to Venezuela after nearly eight years in exile.
#talks #caracas #maduro #assembly
The latest talks follow the January capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, and will focus on strengthening democracy and restoring rights after nearly three decades of socialist rule.
The talks will be led by members of Venezuela's overwhelmingly pro-government National **** embly and a group of former opposition lawmakers who previously attempted to oust Maduro. U.S. officials say they will have a facilitating role.
"I hope these people (the government) finally understand that we won't move forward with the usual arbitrary actions; they must respect agreements," said Soraida Martínez, a 58-year-old homemaker. "Both sides need to make concessions for the good of the country."
Saturday's meeting comes nearly seven weeks after a gathering in Caracas between National **** embly chief Jorge Rodríguez — the brother of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez — and former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera, who briefly returned to Venezuela after nearly eight years in exile.
#talks #caracas #maduro #assembly
3 months ago
Iran's president and central bank chief told Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei the economy was on the ropes due to the U.S. naval blockade, according to a report.
As the regime weighed whether to sign the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire, officials were split among pragmatists favoring an agreement and hardliners who wanted to keep fighting. Meanwhile, the supreme leader was hesitating.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is among the pragmatists, approached Khamenei and told him economic conditions were dire, the U.S. naval blockade was crippling, and that he would resign if the deal wasn't approved, senior Iranian officials told the New York Times.
At the same time, the head of Iran's central bank sent a letter to Khamenei warning the country faced a severe budget crisis, was unable to sell oil via alternative trade routes at necessary volumes, and would run out of critical food and medical supplies by late August if the blockade wasn't lifted, the report added.
The bleak **** sments conveyed by the president and central bank helped convince Khamenei to give his blessing for the MOU, even though he said he opposed it "on principle," sources told the Times.
As the regime weighed whether to sign the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire, officials were split among pragmatists favoring an agreement and hardliners who wanted to keep fighting. Meanwhile, the supreme leader was hesitating.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is among the pragmatists, approached Khamenei and told him economic conditions were dire, the U.S. naval blockade was crippling, and that he would resign if the deal wasn't approved, senior Iranian officials told the New York Times.
At the same time, the head of Iran's central bank sent a letter to Khamenei warning the country faced a severe budget crisis, was unable to sell oil via alternative trade routes at necessary volumes, and would run out of critical food and medical supplies by late August if the blockade wasn't lifted, the report added.
The bleak **** sments conveyed by the president and central bank helped convince Khamenei to give his blessing for the MOU, even though he said he opposed it "on principle," sources told the Times.
