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Türkiye Prepared to Hand over Syrian Regions under its Control to Regime

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart in Ankara on December 22, 2022. (AFP)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart in Ankara on December 22, 2022. (AFP)
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Türkiye Prepared to Hand over Syrian Regions under its Control to Regime

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart in Ankara on December 22, 2022. (AFP)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart in Ankara on December 22, 2022. (AFP)

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed on Thursday that his country was prepared to hand over Syrian regions under its control to the Syrian regime “should political stability be established.”

Speaking to the press, he stressed that Türkiye has repeatedly said it was ready to hand over power in areas it is deployed in Syria to Damascus once political stability is reached.

He made his remarks shortly after a meeting between the Turkish, Syrian and Russian defense ministers in Moscow.

Cavusoglu spoke of the possibility of joint work in the future between Ankara and Damascus should common ground be reached between them over fighting terrorism.

Moreover, he stressed that Türkiye respects Syria’s unity and territorial integrity.

Earlier this month, Russia had proposed during a consultative meeting in Istanbul the withdrawal of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from Manbij and Ain al-Arab in northern Syria. The regime would replace the SDF while the Kurdish security forces, Asayish, would remain and be incorporated in the regime forces.

The proposal is in line with Türkiye’s demand for the establishment of a buffer zone 30 kilometers deep into Syrian territory.

Cavusoglu said on Thursday that the United States and some European countries are opposed to the dialogue and rapprochement between Ankara and Damascus because they support the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) that Türkiye views as terrorist.

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Arab World

Dutch Court Jails ‘Assad Torturer’ for 26 Years for Torture, Rape

A demonstrator stands on a photograph of President Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the Syrian consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Dec. 8, 2024. (Getty Images/AFP)
A demonstrator stands on a photograph of President Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the Syrian consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Dec. 8, 2024. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Dutch Court Jails ‘Assad Torturer’ for 26 Years for Torture, Rape

A demonstrator stands on a photograph of President Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the Syrian consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Dec. 8, 2024. (Getty Images/AFP)
A demonstrator stands on a photograph of President Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the Syrian consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Dec. 8, 2024. (Getty Images/AFP)

A Dutch court Monday sentenced a Syrian man to 26 years in jail for the torture and rape of opponents of former president Bashar al-Assad during the country's civil war.

The 58-year-old man, identified as Rafik A., was head of the interrogation unit of the National Defense Force (NDF) in the western Syrian city of Salamiyah in 2013 and 2014.

The paramilitary NDF violently suppressed dissent against the Assad regime and imprisoned and tortured opponents.

The court said victims were "handcuffed and blindfolded, beaten with various objects and kicked for prolonged periods, folded up inside a car tire, hung upside down, or electrocuted, often being forced to be naked."

A. was also found guilty of sexually abusing multiple victims and raping one of them, the court said.

"Time and again, the suspect created conditions of mortal terror, threat, pain, hopelessness and powerlessness," said the court in The Hague.

He was convicted of 19 counts of crimes against humanity against eight victims.

The court said the sentence was justified by "the exceptional gravity of the offences and the suffering of the victims".

It was the first time anyone had been tried in the Netherlands for sexual violence as a crime against humanity.

A. arrived in the Netherlands in 2021 and won temporary asylum, settling in the central town of Druten with his family.

Police arrested him shortly afterwards following a tip.

During his trial, A. denied the charges against him which he dismissed as a "conspiracy".

His lawyers said A. himself was tortured by militias and is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Several European countries are trying suspects from the Syrian civil war under the legal tool of universal jurisdiction, allowing judges to rule on alleged serious crimes committed abroad.

Similar cases have been heard in France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and Austria.

Arab World

Palestinian Leader Abbas Announces Presidential Election in Early 2027

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)
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Palestinian Leader Abbas Announces Presidential Election in Early 2027

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has issued a decree calling for presidential elections in early 2027 and for legislative elections to be held in November of this year, official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, without saying if he would run.

"President Mahmoud Abbas announced that presidential elections will be held in early 2027," Wafa said, citing a statement from the presidency.

The 90-year-old leader's decree also calls for legislative elections to take place in November of this year, it added.

Arab World

MSF Sacks 18 Staff Over Abuse of Sudanese Refugees in Chad

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
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MSF Sacks 18 Staff Over Abuse of Sudanese Refugees in Chad

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)

Dozens of Doctors Without Borders staff have been accused of sexually abusing Sudanese refugees in Chad, the organization said Monday, adding that it dismissed 18 workers after investigations found "serious misconduct".

The medical charity, which goes by its French acronym MSF, said it had launched a series of investigations into "serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse" put forward in late 2024 by Sudanese refugees hosted in eastern Chad.

Since breaking out in April 2023, Sudan's civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 12 million people, nearly one million of whom have fled west to Chad, according to the United Nations.

In an email confirming information first reported by the Associated Press, MSF -- one of the biggest organizations providing aid in the refugee camps in eastern Chad -- said its investigations had found a number of cases of "serious misconduct".

"We deeply regret the harm caused," it said.

The medical charity described how its investigations had over several months "identified allegations of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse".

"While some of the 59 allegations were corroborated by the review, others remained unverified as in some cases neither victims nor perpetrators could be identified," it said, stressing that "where investigations established serious misconduct, immediate disciplinary action was taken".

"As a result, 18 staff have been dismissed and are now barred from working with MSF."

The organization said the accused workers belonged to several employment categories, including contracted staff, daily workers, external contractors and suppliers.

"To protect the confidentiality, privacy and safety of those affected, in line with a survivor-centered approach, we are not able to share further details on individual cases or outcomes," the organization said.

The charity stressed that "this misconduct represents a serious breach of MSF's values and responsibilities.

"We continue to work to strengthen our prevention, detection and response systems," it said.

"We encourage staff, patients and community members to report to us any misconduct and are committed to ensuring that our reporting channels are safe, accessible and trusted."