Latest news with #NationalIntelligenceOrganization
Saudi Gazette
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
PKK lay down arms in northern Iraq in symbolic disarmament
BAGHDAD — A group of 30 PKK terrorists, including 15 women, laid down their weapons and destroyed them in a symbolic disarmament ceremony on Friday in the Surdas sub-district of Iraq's Sulaymaniyah province, marking a potential turning point in the group's decades-long armed campaign. The militants emerged from a cave where they had been based and proceeded to a designated disarmament site, where they tossed their weapons into a large burning cauldron. A senior PKK figure read a statement in both Turkish and Kurdish during the event. The disarmament was witnessed by officials from Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization, representatives from the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government, security forces, members of Türkiye's Peoples' Democratic Party, civil society organizations, and media personnel. The move comes after a May announcement that the PKK would dissolve and end its armed activities. That declaration followed a February statement from jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who called for the group and its affiliates to disband and halt their armed struggle, which began in the late 1970s. The PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state for over 40 years, leading to the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including civilians. The group has long used the mountainous regions of northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, as a safe haven to regroup and launch attacks into Türkiye. — Agencies
Iraqi News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraqi PM receives Turkey's intelligence chief in Baghdad
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, received on Tuesday the director of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin, to discuss security issues. According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Kalin expressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's intention to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries through collaboration. The two sides discussed approaches to enhance coordination between Iraq and Turkey to strengthen stability in border areas as well as throughout the region. The meeting comes after the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced last week that its fighters in northern Iraq would begin handing over their weapons. According to a statement released by the PKK, a group of militants will leave the mountains and surrender their weapons in an attempt to demonstrate their support for democratic politics and peace. A ceremony scheduled between July 10 and 12 in the city of Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region of Iraq will mark the first tangible step toward disarmament, according to the statement. The PKK announced a ceasefire with Turkey earlier in 2025 in response to a call from its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who is presently serving a life sentence, to dismantle and disarm the organization. In late February, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the call made by Ocalan to his party to lay down arms. The ministry viewed this endeavor as a critical step in improving security throughout the region, not just in Iraq, where PKK fighters are active in various parts of Iraqi Kurdistan and a few other places. Turkey, the United States, and the European Union have all designated the PKK, which has fought for decades, as a terrorist group. The party's decision to disband is a significant milestone in regional geopolitics, and it may reduce long-standing tensions, notably in Iraqi Kurdistan, where PKK members remain.
Roya News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Russia-Ukraine peace talks to resume in Istanbul with Turkiye's mediation
The second round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by Turkiye, is set to begin Monday at 1 PM local time at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace, Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will chair the trilateral meeting and will include senior officials from Russia, Ukraine, and Turkiye. Also expected to attend is Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT). This meeting follows the first round of talks held on May 16 in Istanbul, where the parties agreed to a mutual prisoner exchange—1,000 from each side—and outlined preliminary positions on a potential cease-fire. All sides pledged to keep dialogue open and work toward de-escalating the ongoing conflict. Turkiye, which maintains strong diplomatic ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, continues to play a central role in mediating between the two countries. Ahead of Monday's talks, Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul with representatives from Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom to coordinate positions. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the delegation reiterated its dedication to pursuing a peaceful resolution. 'The Ukrainian delegation reaffirmed its commitment to peace efforts,' a ministry spokesperson stated.
Jordan News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
In an Unannounced Visit, Erdoğan Receives Al-Sharaa in Istanbu...
اضافة اعلان Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held talks on Saturday in Istanbul with Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the Syrian president for the transitional phase, during an unannounced to Turkish media outlets, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief İbrahim Kalı Turkish state broadcaster TRT Haber published images from the meeting, which took place at the Dolmabahçe Palace. Last April, Al-Sharaa also visited Turkey and participated in the Antalya Diplomacy Erdoğan at the meeting were Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın, and Defense Industries Authority President Haluk Görgü the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the Syrian foreign and defense ministers are scheduled to meet their Turkish counterparts in Turkey to discuss bilateral in February, Erdoğan and Al-Sharaa met for the first time in Turkish Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın held discussions in Damascus with Syrian leadership regarding the lifting of sanctions, Israeli attacks, the status of detained terrorists in Syrian prisons, and the return of Syrian visit comes just days after Erdoğan urged the Syrian administration not to delay implementation of the agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) concerning their integration into state institutions, emphasizing that Turkey is closely monitoring this issue. (Source: Sputnik)
Al Arabiya
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Turkey's spy agency aided release of Thai prisoners in Gaza: Report
Turkey's spy agency helped secure the release of five Thai prisoners by Hamas on Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel, state media reported. Thirty-one Thai nationals were among the dozens abducted when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, with 23 released by the end of that year and two confirmed dead in May. Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) negotiated with Hamas after instructions from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and secured the release of five Thai hostages in Gaza on Thursday, the Anadolu news agency reported. In mid-January, Erdogan said his country hoped for a 'lasting peace' in Gaza after the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. The Turkish leader met with Hamas leader Muhammad Ismail Darwish in Ankara on Wednesday, his office said. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and MIT chief Ibrahim Kalin also attended that meeting. The Thai foreign ministry said the five released Thursday would be taken to hospital for medical treatment. 'Thailand calls for the release of all the remaining hostages including a Thai national soonest, so they can safely return to their homeland and to their beloved families,' the ministry added.
