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Amberin Zaman

Amberin Zaman

Al Monitor

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PKK holds congress in response to Ocalan's call to end war with Turkey

The PKK announced that it had held a congress in Iraqi Kurdistan, most likely to decide on disbanding after its leader's call to end its insurgency.

latest 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey’s Erdogan rebukes Syrian Kurds over decentralization calls, but keeps tone mild

Turkey’s Erdogan rebukes Syrian Kurds over decentralization calls, but keeps tone mild

The Turkish president's restrained comments hint at an evolving strategy toward Kurdish forces in Syria.

30.04.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

For Syria’s minorities, life under Kurds remains safest bet

For Syria’s minorities, life under Kurds remains safest bet

Despite promises of reform from Syria’s new Islamist-turned-president, minorities fear retribution — and find uneasy refuge under Kurdish rule.

29.04.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syria’s Kurds reap benefits of Erdogan’s 'terror free Turkey' as Ankara halts attacks

Syria’s Kurds reap benefits of Erdogan’s 'terror free Turkey' as Ankara halts attacks

Turkey’s softened stance signals a strategic shift in its approach to Syria’s Kurds and the PKK.

26.04.2025 20

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey stops electricity sales to Iraq after Baghdad fails to settle $70M+ bill

Turkey stops electricity sales to Iraq after Baghdad fails to settle $70M+ bill

Turkey halted electricity exports to Iraq over unpaid dues, straining ties as Baghdad faces a summer power crunch and unresolved Kurdish oil disputes.

24.04.2025 6

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Nightlife rocks Raqqa as Syria’s Islamist leaders navigate power

A reopened nightclub in Raqqa spotlights the uneasy balance Syria’s new Islamist-led government is striking between ideology and public life.

22.04.2025 20

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syria's Kurds say Trump aid cuts are feeding radicalism in ISIS camps

In an interview at Syria’s Roj camp, the head of intelligence for the Women’s Protection Units warns that US funding cuts are fueling a resurgence...

16.04.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

US in hurry for nuclear deal, Iran says after high-stakes talks

The United States wants a nuclear agreement "as soon as possible", Iran said after rare talks on Saturday, as US President Donald Trump threatens...

12.04.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Israel expanding Gaza offensive, seizes key corridor

Israel said Saturday it planned to expand its military offensive in Gaza after seizing a new corridor as part of a broader effort to take large parts...

12.04.2025 2

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syrian Kurd commander: Aleppo power-sharing deal could be model for nation

In his first interview since signing a landmark agreement with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, SDF commander General Mazloum Kobane speaks...

12.04.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syria's Kurds to demand federalism in tactical push for decentralization

Syrian Kurdish groups are uniting to push for federalism and constitutional guarantees of Kurdish rights in talks with Damascus, despite skepticism...

11.04.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iraq seeks more compensation from Turkey, 'blocks' reopening of Kurds' oil pipeline

Disputes over oil revenues and arbitration claims have kept the Kurdish pipeline closed.

31.03.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey’s main opposition CHP seeks to sustain protests over Imamoglu’s arrest

The party faces mounting pressure as nationwide protests continue, with authorities cracking down on supporters and arresting key figures, including...

25.03.2025 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

As protests over Imamoglu arrest rock Turkey, what's next for Erdogan?

Protests continue in Turkey after the arrest of the opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, challenging President Erdogan's authority and exposing potential...

25.03.2025 10

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Trump 'fully supports' Israeli actions in Gaza: White House

US President Donald Trump "fully supports" Israel's deadly resumption of air and ground operations in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline...

20.03.2025 9

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey’s shaky economy early casualty of Imamoglu’s arrest on terror charges

The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on dubious terror charges has rattled investor confidence, sending the lira plunging, triggering market...

20.03.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Erdogan’s enduring grip over Turkey assured with Imamoglu's arrest

The arrest of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on terror and corruption charges cements President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s dominance,...

19.03.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syria's Kurdish-led forces say Turkish strike kills 9 as Ankara mulls PKK peace

At least nine members of the same family, including seven children, were killed in an alleged Turkish drone strike on a rural area near Kobani.

18.03.2025 5

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Yemen's Huthis claim attacks on carrier group after US strikes

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels claimed on Monday to have twice attacked an American aircraft carrier group within 24 hours, calling it retaliation...

17.03.2025 10

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iran-backed Yemen rebels say attacked US carrier after air strikes

Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen said Sunday they attacked a US aircraft carrier group in the Red Sea and will target American commercial vessels, a...

17.03.2025 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

US says 'multiple' leaders of Iran-backed rebels dead in Yemen strikes

A White House official on Sunday said a wave of United States air strikes on Yemen killed senior Huthi rebel leaders and sent a message to their...

16.03.2025 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey's Erdogan discusses Russia-Ukraine war, Syria in first official call with Trump

In their first official call since Trump's return to office, the pair discussed efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in Syria, and...

16.03.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey’s Erdogan says he's ready to meet with Kurds brokering peace with PKK

Erdogan's willingness to engage with Kurdish leaders signals a potential shift in Turkey's stalled peace process with the PKK after years of tension...

13.03.2025 9

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

EU foreign affairs chief slams rise of the 'rule of force'

The EU's foreign affairs chief on Tuesday told the UN Security Council that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was just one of a rising number of cases...

11.03.2025 6

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syria’s Kurds win big as Sharaa shakes hands with Kobane to save his own skin

The surprise deal between Syria’s interim president and the Kurdish leader marks a pivotal moment for the country’s Kurdish minority and shifts...

11.03.2025 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iran spooked by Turkey’s overtures to Kurds, rising role in Syria, Iraq

Iran and Turkey’s regional rivalry deepens as Ankara moves to make peace with the Kurds and expands its influence in Syria and Iraq at Tehran’s...

04.03.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Kurdish leader Ocalan makes historic call for PKK militants to end war with Turkey

Imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan made a historic call on Thursday for members of his outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to lay...

27.02.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

PKK leader Ocalan set to make historic peace call between Turkey and the Kurds 

A delegation is expected to relay the militant leader's statement on Thursday, Al-Monitor has learned.

27.02.2025 10

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Armenia joins US-led global coalition against Islamic State

Yerevan’s pivot toward the West has intensified amid regional tensions and shifting alliances.

25.02.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Israel exploits divisions as Syria's new leaders convene national dialogue without Kurds

Divisions over Kurdish exclusion and Druze unrest cast a shadow over Syria’s reconciliation talks.

25.02.2025 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iraqi Kurds lend hand as PKK leader negotiates plan for peace with Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan is expected to urge his men to lay down their arms and end a more than 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state, capping talks...

21.02.2025 20

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Mass arrests in Turkey as Erdogan courts Kurds, seeks to eliminate rivals

Erdogan is intensifying his crackdown on Kurdish and opposition groups in fear of rivals and political instability ahead of the 2028 elections.

18.02.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Squeezed between Turkey and Sharaa, Syria's Kurds face stark choices

Syria’s Kurds risk losing autonomy amid Turkish opposition and uncertain US backing.

14.02.2025 7

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey escalates push to replace Kurds as top anti-ISIS force in Syria

Turkey is attempting to form a new coalition to combat ISIS remnants and replace the Pentagon-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.

13.02.2025 10

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

After Assad’s fall, Iran hopes to creep back through Syria's back door

Iranian officials admitted they were "defeated very badly" with the fall of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and their prospects for...

08.02.2025 9

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Pomp over substance marks Sharaa's first trip to Turkey as Syria's president

While the Turkish president lauded the visit as "historic," little of substance was announced and neither leader made any mention of an alleged...

05.02.2025 9

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Can Syria’s new Islamist rulers win their broken nation’s trust?

While Syrians widely celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorial regime, many reserve judgement on their new Islamist leaders.

04.02.2025 5

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iran VP says government put off enforcing strict dress code

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday his government had put off enforcing the country's strict Islamic dress code in order...

22.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey, Kurds move toward peace deal as lawmakers meet with PKK leader Ocalan

Talks with the jailed PKK leader spark hope for ending Turkey's 40-year conflict amid shifting alliances and regional pressures.

22.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Kurdish leader Barzani, SDF's Kobane meet to seek common ground in Syria

The pair aim to bridge decades-old Kurdish divisions as shifting alliances reshape regional politics.

16.01.2025 8

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Hamas approves Gaza truce deal: Palestinian sources close to talks

Hamas has approved a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, Palestinian sources close to negotiations said Wednesday, after mediator Qatar expressed...

15.01.2025 5

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani to meet Syria SDF commander Kobane in historic step

Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani will meet SDF commander Mazlum Kobane in a historic step toward easing regional tensions and advancing US-backed...

15.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 27 Palestinians

Gaza's civil defence agency said on Wednesday that Israeli strikes killed at least 27 people, as the military issued new evacuation calls in northern...

15.01.2025 3

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani to meet Syria SDF commander Kobane in historic first

Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani will meet SDF commander Mazlum Kobane in a historic step toward easing regional tensions and advancing US-backed...

15.01.2025 10

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Kurdish-led SDF says civilians killed as Turkey strikes Syrian dam

Turkish-backed forces are intensifying attacks on Kurdish-controlled areas, targeting civilians and critical infrastructure as fears grow over a...

08.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syria's new Islamist rulers reduce Iraq's appetite for US troop withdrawal

Iraq's prime minister is heading to Iran to discuss concerns about Syria's new rulers, as Baghdad is considering the delay of the US troop...

08.01.2025 7

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

US envoy works to reconcile rival Kurds in Syria as Turkey masses forces near Kobani

With the collapse of the Syrian regime in an offensive led by the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its Turkey-backed allies, Syrian...

19.12.2024 5

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey-backed Syrian factions end US-mediated ceasefire with Kurdish-led SDF

The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has ended a ceasefire reached through US mediation last week, which had led to the withdrawal of the...

16.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Syria’s Kurds faced with all-out war as Turkey, Sunni allies target Kobani 

The collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime following a lightning offensive led by al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and an array of Sunni...

10.12.2024 7

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Turkey-backed forces advance on Kurdish Syrian town of Kobani

The collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime following a lightning offensive led by al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and an array of Sunni...

10.12.2024 10

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman