President Erdoğan: No hesitation in defending Türkiye's borders, airspace

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared Thursday that Türkiye shows "no negligence or hesitation" in securing its borders and airspace amid escalating Middle East conflict. Addressing an Ankara event, he reaffirmed Türkiye's multi-dimensional diplomacy to prevent further bloodshed and confirmed Ankara issued necessary warnings after a missile from Iran was intercepted over Turkish territory.

Turkish intel helps dismantle Daesh cell in Damascus, 3 terrorists held

Turkish intelligence sources confirmed Thursday that MIT shared critical information with Syrian authorities, leading to the dismantling of a Daesh cell preparing sabotage attacks in Damascus. Three terrorists were detained and a vehicle loaded with explosives was discovered at a strategic location, averting potential mass casualties.

Erdoğan, Aliyev discuss drone attack on Nakhchivan, reaffirm solidarity

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a phone call Thursday to discuss a drone strike on Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave that injured four people. Erdoğan condemned the attack launched from Iranian territory and conveyed well wishes to Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people.

Erdoğan urges NATO defense boost in call with Macron amid Iran crisis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the need for increased defense cooperation among NATO allies during a Thursday phone call. Erdoğan warned that prolonging the Iran conflict would destabilize the region and world, expressing sadness over civilian deaths and reaffirming Türkiye's diplomatic efforts.

Erdoğan, Malaysia's Anwar discuss Iran conflict, bilateral ties in phone call

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a telephone conversation Thursday focusing on bilateral relations and the escalating crisis in Iran. Erdoğan warned that prolonged conflict could create "more difficult challenges" for the region, reaffirming Türkiye's commitment to peace-focused diplomacy.

Türkiye reserves right to respond after Iranian munition approached airspace

Türkiye warned Thursday it reserves the right to respond to hostile actions after a ballistic munition fired from Iran was detected heading toward Turkish airspace. NATO air and missile defense units intercepted the projectile in the Eastern Mediterranean, as Ankara closely monitors the expanding regional conflict.

Türkiye slams attempts to undermine Aegean islands' demilitarized status

Türkiye on Thursday condemned efforts to challenge the demilitarized status of Eastern Aegean islands, calling such attempts "unserious, unfortunate and ill-timed." The Foreign Ministry stressed that the islands' legal framework under the Treaty of Lausanne and Paris Peace Treaty is not debatable, warning against creating new faits accomplis.

Qatar activates air defenses to intercept missile attack amid regional escalation

Qatar's Defense Ministry reported Thursday that the country was subjected to a missile attack, with air defense systems responding to incoming projectiles. Strong explosions were heard over Doha as the widening conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces continues to draw Gulf states into the line of fire.

Türkiye's Middle Corridor gains strategic importance as Iran conflict disrupts global shipping

The Russia-Ukraine war paralyzed the Northern Corridor, and now US-Israeli strikes on Iran have crippled the Southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, thrusting Türkiye's Middle Corridor and Development Road project into the spotlight. Experts say Türkiye's land and rail alternatives have shifted from convenience to necessity for global trade.

Kremlin: Iran has not requested Russian assistance amid US-Israeli strikes

The Kremlin announced Thursday that Tehran has not sought any military or other assistance from Moscow, despite the ongoing US-Israeli offensive that has killed over 900 Iranians including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Russia condemned the strikes as "armed aggression" aimed at overthrowing Iran's legitimate government.

Israel closes Al-Aqsa during Ramadan, citing Iran war, in historic break with status quo

Israeli authorities closed Al-Aqsa Mosque on February 28, citing the Iran conflict, preventing the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan. A Jerusalem Governorate report reveals systematic escalation: nearly 5,000 settler raids, over 100 arrests, and entry bans for 400 Palestinians as part of a broader campaign to alter the city's religious and demographic character.

Hezbollah rockets hit northern Israel as Lebanon death toll rises

Hezbollah announced Thursday it fired rocket barrages at Israeli military positions in the Galilee region, retaliating for Israeli attacks that have killed dozens across Lebanon. The exchange comes as Lebanon's Health Ministry reported at least 12 new deaths from Israeli airstrikes, pushing the four-day toll to 72 killed and 450 wounded.

Ethiopia at crossroads: Geopolitical fragility and Türkiye's strategic role

The Horn of Africa faces multilayered instability as Ethiopia grapples with internal conflicts, economic fragility and geopolitical pressures. Amid Israel's recognition of Somaliland and rising regional tensions, President Erdoğan's recent visit to Addis Ababa offered a strategic counterbalance, emphasizing that foreign competition should not destabilize the region further.

Zelenskyy: Ukraine-Russia peace talks paused due to Iran conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Wednesday that peace negotiations with Russia have been suspended because of the escalating crisis in Iran. Kyiv remains ready to resume talks when conditions permit, he said, as the sudden US-Israeli attack on Iran derailed plans for a fourth round originally scheduled for early March in the UAE.

Data centers emerge as strategic targets as AI reshapes modern warfare

Iran's retaliatory strikes against Amazon Web Services facilities in Bahrain and the UAE mark a new phase of conflict where digital infrastructure has become a direct military target, according to SETA researcher Gloria Shkurti Ozdemir. The integration of commercial AI into warfare systems is blurring civilian-military boundaries and accelerating combat decision-making.

Putin threatens to halt Europe energy supplies, redirect to Asia, warns of pipeline plots

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he may order a halt to energy deliveries to Europe and redirect supplies to Asia, citing planned EU restrictions and emerging premium markets. He also warned of alleged Ukrainian plots to blow up the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, critical for energy flows to Türkiye and southern Europe.

Trump defends Iran strikes as necessary to prevent nuclear bomb

President Donald Trump asserted Wednesday that the US-Israeli attack on Iran was essential to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon within two weeks. Speaking at a White House event, Trump claimed that if Washington had not acted preemptively, Iran would have struck Israel, and reiterated that June's strikes had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear potential.

US cognitive warfare: How AI and Big Tech shaped the Iran strikes

Following the launch of "Operation Epic Fury" on February 28, the US deployed not only military force but sophisticated cognitive warfare tools targeting Iranian perception and leadership. From AI-powered Project Maven for precision targeting to the Mosaic system's data analysis enabling strikes on nuclear scientists, Washington's technological arsenal proved as decisive as its bombs.

Germany rules out joining US-Israeli strikes, rejects regime change role

Germany announced Thursday it will not participate in US and Israeli strikes against Iran and ruled out supporting concrete measures for regime change, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said. While Berlin hopes for democratic transformation, such change must come from the Iranian people themselves, he stressed.

Iraqi Kurdish leader: KRG will not join regional conflicts

Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani has declared that the KRG will remain neutral in ongoing regional conflicts, pledging to serve as "a factor of peace." In a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Barzani expressed condolences over Iranian casualties from US-Israeli strikes while emphasizing commitment to diplomatic solutions and border security.

OIC condemns Iranian missile threat to Türkiye, backs Ankara's security

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation denounced the firing of a ballistic missile from Iran toward Turkish airspace, which was intercepted by NATO defenses. The OIC expressed full solidarity with Türkiye, emphasizing that threatening member states violates international principles of good neighborliness and mutual respect.

Hezbollah strikes Israeli military, defense sites in northern Israel

Hezbollah announced Thursday it launched two drone attacks targeting military and defense industry facilities in northern Israel, including a base near Safed and a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems complex near Acre. The strikes come in response to ongoing Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and follow the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader in US-Israeli strikes.

US attack on Iranian frigate kills 87, Tehran warns of 'bitter regret'

Iran's foreign minister revealed Thursday that 130 sailors were aboard the IRIS Dena frigate when it was struck by a US torpedo off Sri Lanka, with at least 87 confirmed dead. Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the "atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores," warning Washington will "bitterly regret" setting such a precedent.

Qatar evacuates residents near US Embassy as precautionary measure

Qatari authorities have temporarily evacuated residents living near the US Embassy in Doha as a preventive step, the Interior Ministry announced Thursday. Officials provided alternative accommodation for affected residents while urging the public to rely on official channels for information, though no specific reason for the evacuation was disclosed.

Iran strikes Kurdish opposition bases in northern Iraq with missiles

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps launched three missiles targeting bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq's Kurdistan Region Wednesday, local media reported. Heavy explosions were heard near Sulaymaniyah, though no casualties were reported, as a top security official warned groups not to exploit the situation.