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Türkiye: No Direct Dialogue with Damascus, No Progress in Normalization

Part of the Turkish military operations against Kurdish militias in the border areas with Syria (File- AFP)
Part of the Turkish military operations against Kurdish militias in the border areas with Syria (File- AFP)
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Türkiye: No Direct Dialogue with Damascus, No Progress in Normalization

Part of the Turkish military operations against Kurdish militias in the border areas with Syria (File- AFP)
Part of the Turkish military operations against Kurdish militias in the border areas with Syria (File- AFP)

Türkiye and Russia held a round of political consultations that discussed Syria and a number of other topics related to bilateral relations and regional issues, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Caucasus region.

In a statement on X, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the consultations were led by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akçabar, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Galuzin.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the consultations revolved around Syria and the Russian-sponsored normalization process between Ankara and Damascus, which was halted as both sides acknowledged the presence of many obstacles that need to be addressed.

In this context, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said that the normalization process has not witnessed any progress so far, adding that his country was not engaging in any direct dialogue with Damascus.

Turkish media quoted Keceli as saying on Friday that the Syrian government was setting preconditions for the normalization.

The Russian President’s envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, confirmed in January that the process of normalization of relations between Türkiye and Syria had been completely halted since past autumn, noting the Syrian side wanted assurances from Ankara that Turkish forces currently present illegally on Syrian territory would be withdrawn in the future.

The Turkish military presence in northern Syria constitutes the main obstacle to the progress of the normalization process between Ankara and Damascus. The latter had announced that there would be no talk of any steps for normalization before the troops’ withdrawal.

Ankara, for its part, says that the presence of its forces was necessary until the completion of the political process, the adoption of the constitution, the holding of elections, and the formation of a Syrian government through elections that provide guarantees for the safe return of refugees.

Also, Türkiye says that it does not trust the current ability of the Syrian army to guarantee the security of the common border, in light of the presence of Kurdish militants in the south.

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Arab World

Hamas Nears Final Step in Choosing New Political Chief

A billboard of Hamas' slain leader Yahya Sinwar is displayed at the Palestine square in Tehran, Iran, 19 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
A billboard of Hamas' slain leader Yahya Sinwar is displayed at the Palestine square in Tehran, Iran, 19 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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Hamas Nears Final Step in Choosing New Political Chief

A billboard of Hamas' slain leader Yahya Sinwar is displayed at the Palestine square in Tehran, Iran, 19 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
A billboard of Hamas' slain leader Yahya Sinwar is displayed at the Palestine square in Tehran, Iran, 19 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Hamas is close to electing a new head of its political bureau, who will oversee the movement until the end of this year or early next year, pending broader internal elections in the Palestinian territories and abroad.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned from three Hamas sources outside Gaza that members of the movement’s political bureau — excluding those already in Gaza and the West Bank — along with members of its Shura Council, have been meeting in Istanbul for several days. Participants also attended funeral ceremonies for Azzam Al-Hayya, the son of Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ political leader in Gaza.

According to the sources, Khalil Al-Hayya traveled from Türkiye to Qatar to be with his family after his son Azzam was killed in an Israeli airstrike last Wednesday. The strike also reportedly killed a field commander from the elite forces of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing.

The sources said Al-Hayya is expected to return to Istanbul to resume his duties, including preparations for the final phase of selecting Hamas’ new political bureau chief.

Hamas is facing what observers describe as its most severe crisis since the movement was founded in 1987. Israeli operations launched after the October 7, 2023 attack have targeted multiple branches and leadership levels within the organization, creating significant organizational and financial strains.

Current assessments suggest that Khaled Meshaal, Hamas’ external political chief, and Khalil Al-Hayya are the leading contenders for the top position.

The movement is waiting for what sources described as “appropriate security and political conditions” before holding comprehensive elections across Palestinian territories and Hamas’ overseas branches to choose a new Shura Council, political bureau, executive body, and regional leadership structures.

For roughly the past year and a half, Hamas affairs have been managed by a temporary “leadership council.” Earlier this year, the movement began efforts to select a leader to complete the remainder of the current political bureau’s term, which was originally due to end in 2025 but was extended by one year until broader elections can be held late this year or early next year.

Momentum Builds Around Al-Hayya

Sources outside Gaza said Hamas could announce the identity of its new political bureau chief within days, possibly by the end of this week or early next week.

A fourth Hamas source in Gaza told Asharq Al-Awsat that some within the movement are pushing for Al-Hayya’s election, particularly after the killing of his fourth son.

With Azzam Al-Hayya’s death last week, Khalil Al-Hayya has now lost four sons in Israeli strikes. Earlier, Azzam’s twin brother, Hammam Al-Hayya, was killed in a strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha in September 2025.

New Mediation Proposal Expected

A Palestinian faction source said mediators, particularly Egypt, are expected to present a revised proposal aimed at narrowing gaps between Hamas and Israel. The source said Israel’s response to the latest framework remained negative, citing disputes over weapons, withdrawal terms, and reconstruction conditions.

Meanwhile, Israel intensified accusations that Hamas is rebuilding military infrastructure, manufacturing weapons, and exploiting humanitarian aid through taxation. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasim rejected the claims, saying they were intended to justify continued Israeli military escalation and tighter restrictions on Gaza.

Qasim also said Hamas remains committed to the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire agreement signed in October 2025, despite what he described as thousands of Israeli violations since the truce took effect. According to the report, more than 856 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.

Arab World

Israeli Strikes Kill Six in South Lebanon

Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike in Kfar Jouz, Lebanon, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike in Kfar Jouz, Lebanon, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)
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Israeli Strikes Kill Six in South Lebanon

Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike in Kfar Jouz, Lebanon, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike in Kfar Jouz, Lebanon, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)

Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon killed six people and wounded seven others, state media said Tuesday, as fighting continued despite a ceasefire agreement.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli strikes Monday night hit a house in Kfar Dounine, a town about 95 kilometers (59 miles) from capital Beirut.

The NNA reported the wounded were transported to hospitals in the coastal city of Tyre.

Israel has intensified its attacks in south Lebanon as it trades fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah despite an April 17 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that aimed to halt the fighting.

More than 2,800 people have been killed in Lebanon since the country was dragged into the Middle East war on March 2, according to health authorities.

Lebanese leaders recently urged the US ambassador to Beirut to pressure Israel to halt its attacks during the ceasefire, though Israel has also reported coming under fire.

Israel's military said over the weekend that one of its soldiers had been killed in fighting near the border with Lebanon, bringing its losses to 18 troops and a civilian contractor since the war began.

The NNA on Tuesday reported strikes near other southern Lebanese towns, and the Israeli military ordered an evacuation of the town of Sohmor in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa valley.

Arab World

Israel Increases Pressure, Widens Ambitions in Lebanon by Carrying Strikes Beyond Litani

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon as seen from Marjeyoun, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon as seen from Marjeyoun, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)
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Israel Increases Pressure, Widens Ambitions in Lebanon by Carrying Strikes Beyond Litani

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon as seen from Marjeyoun, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon as seen from Marjeyoun, May 11, 2026. (Reuters)

The ceasefire in southern Lebanon has not really ended the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has continued its raids on southern villages and the Iran-backed party continues to launch attacks against Israeli forces.

The ceasefire has effectively turned into open combat that is gradually expanding from border areas towards Lebanon’s interior as Israel widens the scope of its attacks and warnings to include regions north of the Litani River. The latest warnings covered Mashghara and Qlaia in the western Bekaa.

It appears that Israel is shifting the battle from “containing the southern front” to reshaping maps across the south and western Bekaa.

Israeli media, meanwhile, reported that the military was planning “a wide ground operation in Lebanon to address Hezbollah’s ongoing violations of the ceasefire.”

A local source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel is effectively fully occupying 35 Lebanese towns and villages, seven others are until total siege and 82 have received evacuation warnings since the ceasefire took effect.

Retired general Naji Malaeb told Asharq Al-Awsat that the developments on the ground in Lebanon “cannot be separated from the geopolitical conflict, meaning geography is being used to serve Israel’s political and military goals.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to extend the yellow line from the Naqoura to Jabal al-Sheikh, increasing Israeli military pressure beyond the areas covered by United Nations resolution 1701 that only covers regions south of the Litani, he added.

The repeated attacks on the western Bekaa and the destruction of bridges along the Litani aim to empty these regions of inhabitants and control how the displaced return to them later, he explained.

Attacks on the towns of Mashgara, Zlaya and Sohmor are also attempts to apply direct pressure on Hezbollah’s support base, he went on to say.

“Israel views the western Bekaa as a source of logistic and human support for Hezbollah,” Malaeb said, noting that the region has long served as a transit point for weapons smuggled from Syria to the Bekaa and then the south.

“So, Tel Aviv wants to sever the link between the Bekaa and south,” he explained.

On the military escalation, he highlighted Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s recent remarks that Israel was not in a truce with Lebanon. “This reflects an Israeli conviction that the confrontation will remain open as long as Hezbollah retains its weapons,” said Malaeb.

“It is unfortunate that the party has not respected the Lebanese state’s decision to cease attacks, because its continued drone or rocket attacks weaken Lebanon’s diplomatic position,” he added.

“Iran is trying to tie the situation in Lebanon to the broader confrontation in the region by demanding that a ceasefire cover all fronts,” he continued. If it is successful, “then Iran would have restored its control over the south and Hezbollah’s role on the border with Israel, destroying Lebanese efforts to separate the Lebanese file from the Iranian negotiations.”

Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon killed six people and wounded seven others, state media said Tuesday, as fighting continued despite a ceasefire agreement.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli strikes Monday night hit a house in Kfar Dounine, a town about 95 kilometers (59 miles) from capital Beirut.

Israel has intensified its attacks in south Lebanon as it trades fire with Hezbollah despite an April 17 ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel that aimed to halt the fighting.

More than 2,800 people have been killed in Lebanon since the country was dragged into the Middle East war on March 2, according to health authorities.