Türkiye Reopens Consulate in Syria's Aleppo 

A Turkish flag is pictured on a boat in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 25, 2018. (Reuters)
A Turkish flag is pictured on a boat in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 25, 2018. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Reopens Consulate in Syria's Aleppo 

A Turkish flag is pictured on a boat in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 25, 2018. (Reuters)
A Turkish flag is pictured on a boat in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 25, 2018. (Reuters)

Türkiye reopened its consulate in Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, raising its flag at the building for the first time in 12 years, Türkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The opening on Monday comes weeks after the Turkish Embassy resumed its operations in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Dec. 14.

Türkiye had closed down its diplomatic missions in Syria in 2012 due to security concerns amid the civil war, during which Ankara supported forces opposed to the government of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Prior to the Syria conflict, Aleppo, located some 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Turkish border, was an important center for trade between Türkiye and Syria.



Trump Not Confident Ceasefire in Gaza Will Hold

US President-elect Donald Trump arrives for his inauguration on January 20, 2025 in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second non-consecutive term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Melina Mara / POOL / AFP)
US President-elect Donald Trump arrives for his inauguration on January 20, 2025 in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second non-consecutive term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Melina Mara / POOL / AFP)
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Trump Not Confident Ceasefire in Gaza Will Hold

US President-elect Donald Trump arrives for his inauguration on January 20, 2025 in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second non-consecutive term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Melina Mara / POOL / AFP)
US President-elect Donald Trump arrives for his inauguration on January 20, 2025 in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second non-consecutive term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Melina Mara / POOL / AFP)

Trump said Hamas is weakened, but he’s hardly certain that the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas will hold.
“I’m not confident,” Trump told reporters. “That’s not our war. It’s their war.”
He said that his administration “might” help rebuild Gaza, which he compared to a “massive demolition site”, The Associated Press said.
“Some beautiful things could be done with it,” said Trump, the real estate developer turned commander in chief, noting the territory’s coastline and “phenomenal” weather and location. “Some fantastic things could be done with Gaza. Some beautiful things could be done with Gaza.”