Türkiye’s Erdogan Criticizes Syria Over Normalization 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives to address media after the cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on August 21, 2023. (AFP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives to address media after the cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on August 21, 2023. (AFP)
TT
20

Türkiye’s Erdogan Criticizes Syria Over Normalization 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives to address media after the cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on August 21, 2023. (AFP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives to address media after the cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on August 21, 2023. (AFP)

President Recept Tayyip Erdogan said Syria was not taking a positive approach towards normalization with Türkiye, with President Bashar al-Assad watching from afar and not taking a role, Turkish media reported on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters on his plane returning from talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin, Erdogan was cited as saying normalization was possible if there was progress on the fight against terrorism, on the safe and voluntary return of refugees and on the political process.



Human Rights Watch Says Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Vessels Amount to War Crimes 

Houthi supporters hold up weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi supporters hold up weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
TT
20

Human Rights Watch Says Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Vessels Amount to War Crimes 

Houthi supporters hold up weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi supporters hold up weapons during a protest against the US and Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen attacked two ships, the Magic Seas and the Eternity C, on July 6 and 9, killing some of their crew and detaining others, Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Wednesday.

The militants have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group’s leadership has described as an effort to end Israel’s offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

HRW, however, said the Houthis’ attacks on the two vessels “violates the laws of war applicable to the armed conflict between the Houthis and Israel.”

“The Houthis have sought to justify unlawful attacks by pointing to Israeli violations against Palestinians,” said Niku Jafarnia, HRW’s Yemen and Bahrain researcher.

Jafarnia called for the Houthis to end all attacks on ships that don’t take part in the Israeli-Hamas war and immediately release detained crew members.