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Turkey Military Runs Drill in East Mediterranean

A Turkish military ship near the Greek island of Lesbos (AFP
A Turkish military ship near the Greek island of Lesbos (AFP
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Turkey Military Runs Drill in East Mediterranean

A Turkish military ship near the Greek island of Lesbos (AFP
A Turkish military ship near the Greek island of Lesbos (AFP

Turkey’s military has conducted air and naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean, its defense ministry said on Friday, affirming news by the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) forces in this regard.

The drill, conducted by Turkey’s navy and air force, was dubbed an “Open Sea Training” exercise by the ministry.

Eight frigates and corvettes participated, along with 17 warplanes based in the central Turkish airbase of Eskisehir, in a 2,000-km round trip, it said in a statement.

The military said the drill was meant to test and develop Turkey’s ability to command and execute long-distance operations.

Turkey’s statement came 24 hours after the “Volcano of Rage” operation room announced that Turkish aerial and naval forces have conducted drills above the Mediterranean Sea, using E-7T airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Fayez al-Sarraj's GNA room, backed by Turkey, also noted that Ankara launched an air bridge consisting of 17 aircraft between Istanbul and Misrata, as well as frigates carrying precision-guided missiles and armed drones.

Itamilradar website, which monitors military aircraft movements over Italy and the Mediterranean Sea, said it detected on Thursday a new mission by the Turkish Air Force.

Italian Flightradar24 site confirmed the claims, pointing out that three Turkish military cargo planes and a ship carrying weapons approached the airspace of western Libya.

It said two of them took off from Istanbul airport, while the third flew from Konya military base in Misrata but returned without landing.

The Turkish cargo ship (CIRKIN), which sailed from Istanbul, was intercepted by a Greek frigate, which follows the EU's military mission in Libya Operation, known as Irini, Flightradar24 reported.

Turkish media also confirmed the Greek naval interception of a “Turkish commercial cargo ship,” which was accompanied by Turkish frigates heading to Libya.

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell confirmed that the incident occurred in international waters off the Libyan coast.

He said Turkey opposed Irini’s inspection of the ship after it was suspected of violating the UN arms embargo on Libya.

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Kurdish Fighters Leave Northern City in Syria as Part of Deal with Central Government

A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
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Kurdish Fighters Leave Northern City in Syria as Part of Deal with Central Government

A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A first contingent of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters leave Aleppo, headed for SDF-controlled northeastern Syria, in Aleppo, Syria, 04 April 2025. (EPA)

Scores of US-backed Kurdish fighters left two neighborhoods in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo Friday as part of a deal with the central government in Damascus, which is expanding its authority in the country.

The fighters left the predominantly Kurdish northern neighborhoods of Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh, which had been under the control of Kurdish fighters in Aleppo over the past decade.

The deal is a boost to an agreement reached last month between Syria’s interim government and the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country’s northeast. The deal could eventually lead to the merger of the main US-backed force in Syria into the Syrian army.

The withdrawal of fighters from the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) came a day after dozens of prisoners from both sides were freed in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported that government forces were deployed along the road that SDF fighters will use to move between Aleppo and areas east of the Euphrates River, where the Kurdish-led force controls nearly a quarter of Syria.

Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh had been under SDF control since 2015 and remained so even when forces of ousted President Bashar al-Assad captured Aleppo in late 2016. The two neighborhoods remained under SDF control when forces loyal to current interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa captured the city in November, and days later captured the capital, Damascus, removing Assad from power.

After being marginalized for decades under the rule of the Assad family rule, the deal signed last month promises Syria’s Kurds “constitutional rights,” including using and teaching their language, which were banned for decades.

Hundreds of thousands of Kurds, who were displaced during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, will return to their homes. Thousands of Kurds living in Syria who have been deprived of nationality for decades under Assad will be given the right of citizenship, according to the agreement.

Kurds made up 10% of the country’s prewar population of 23 million. Kurdish leaders say they don’t want full autonomy with their own government and parliament. They want decentralization and room to run their day-to day-affairs.