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Erdogan Says Türkiye to Take Part in Overseeing Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures, as he arrives for a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures, as he arrives for a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Erdogan Says Türkiye to Take Part in Overseeing Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures, as he arrives for a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures, as he arrives for a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Türkiye aims to take part in a "task force" overseeing the newly-agreed ceasefire in Gaza and the implementation of its articles, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, as Ankara appeared to have emerged as a key player in both the negotiations and execution of the deal.

A senior Turkish official separately told Reuters that the regional power will take part in a joint task force - alongside Israel, the United States, Qatar and Egypt - established to locate the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza whose locations are unknown, according to Reuters.

Türkiye, which participated in the ceasefire negotiations in Egypt, has been one of the harshest critics of Israel's assault on Gaza, calling it a genocide. Since Israel launched its attack on Gaza two years ago, the NATO ally has been involved in a largely indirect capacity in peace efforts but took a heightened role in recent weeks.

"God willing, we as Türkiye will take part in the task force that will monitor the agreement's implementation in the field," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara, adding that Türkiye will also contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza.

He also highlighted Türkiye's role in the process, describing events leading up to the agreement - from the Gaza meeting at the United Nations General Assembly to his discussions on the issue with US President Donald Trump at the White House last month and a subsequent phone call last week.

It was not immediately clear whether Erdogan and the senior official were referring to the same task force or whether it was a reference to a "stabilization force" per Trump's plan.

Türkiye's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin attended the talks in Egypt, where he conveyed Ankara's views and guidance to Hamas on how to move forward, according to a security official, who added Kalin also held separate talks with all parties except the Israeli side. Türkiye deems Hamas a resistance group.

Erdogan has said that he explained to Trump how peace can be achieved in Gaza and that the US president requested Ankara's help in convincing Hamas to accept his plan.

"I am very pleased that the Hamas-Israel talks taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, with contributions from us as Türkiye, have resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza," Erdogan posted on X earlier on Thursday.

He thanked Trump "who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government towards the ceasefire", as well as Qatar and Egypt, adding Ankara would not stop until a sovereign Palestinian state was established.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said ahead of the truce announcement that after the sides declare a ceasefire as a first step in Trump's plan, they would work on "heavier" issues like ensuring security in Gaza and post-war scenarios.

In a statement, Türkiye's foreign ministry said it hoped the momentum in these talks could lead to a two-state solution, and added Ankara would monitor its strict implementation so it could "bring an end to the genocide" in Gaza.

"With the ceasefire in place, it is imperative that humanitarian aid be delivered to Gaza ... and that efforts for the reconstruction of Gaza be launched without delay," it added, saying Ankara would continue providing humanitarian aid.

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World

Russian, Iranian Foreign Ministers Discuss US, Israeli Strikes on Iran

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint press conference with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs after their talks at Zinaida Morozova's Mansion in Moscow on March 3, 2026. (AFP)
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint press conference with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs after their talks at Zinaida Morozova's Mansion in Moscow on March 3, 2026. (AFP)
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Russian, Iranian Foreign Ministers Discuss US, Israeli Strikes on Iran

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint press conference with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs after their talks at Zinaida Morozova's Mansion in Moscow on March 3, 2026. (AFP)
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint press conference with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs after their talks at Zinaida Morozova's Mansion in Moscow on March 3, 2026. (AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone on Tuesday with his Iranian counterpart Abbas ‌Araqchi, Russia's ‌Foreign Ministry ‌said.

The ⁠ministers discussed the ⁠development of the situation in the region "resulting from the ⁠unprovoked armed ‌aggression ‌by the United ‌States and ‌Israel against Iran," the ministry said.

Lavrov reiterated ‌Russia's call for de-escalation, rejected the ⁠use ⁠of force and urged a political and diplomatic resolution, saying Moscow stood ready to help.

World

Israel, US Strikes Hit Building of Body to Elect New Iran Supreme Leader

A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)
A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)
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Israel, US Strikes Hit Building of Body to Elect New Iran Supreme Leader

A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)
A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)

Israeli and US strikes on Tuesday hit the building of a body tasked with electing Iran's new supreme leader, local media reported.

Former leader Ali Khamenei was killed during a wave of US-Israeli attacks on Saturday.

"The American-Zionist criminals attacked the Assembly of Experts building in Qom," south of Tehran, according to the Tasnim news agency.

The assembly is tasked with appointing, supervising and potentially dismissing the supreme leader.

Local media showed footage of the building severely damaged in the strikes.

There was no information on any potential casualties.

The Mehr news agency reported that the building was no longer being used for meetings.

Tasnim reported that strikes had already targeted the main headquarters of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Monday.

Iran declared on Sunday the start of a transition process after confirming Khamenei's death.

The plans include the formation of an interim leadership council including the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council, the body that oversees legislation and vets electoral candidates.

Also playing a central role is Iran's top security chief Ali Larijani.

The interim leadership council will lead the country while a permanent successor is found for the supreme leader.

World

Israel Steps up Airstrikes in Tehran, as Iran Widens Its Response Across the Region

A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)
A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)
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Israel Steps up Airstrikes in Tehran, as Iran Widens Its Response Across the Region

A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)
A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP)

Israel stepped up airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and factories Tuesday, and Iran retaliated across the Gulf region, disrupting energy supplies and travel. As explosions rang out in Tehran and in Lebanon — where Israel said it struck Hezbollah militants — the American embassy in Saudi Arabia came under drone attack.

Four days into a war that President Donald Trump suggested would last several weeks but perhaps longer, hundreds of people have been killed, the vast majority in Iran, where information has been limited because of poor communications, round-the-clock airstrikes and tight restrictions on journalists.

The spiraling nature of the war raised questions about when and how it would end. Trump seemed to leave open the possibility for more extensive US military involvement, telling the New York Post on Monday that he was not ruling out the possibility of boots on the ground.

The administration has given various objectives. While the initial US-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal.

Trump said Monday the military campaign’s four objectives were to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, wipe out its navy, prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensure that it cannot continue to support allied armed groups.

Israel and US target nuclear facilities and other targets in Iran

Across Iran’s capital, explosions rang out throughout the night into Tuesday, with aircraft heard overhead.

The Israeli military said it conducted a wave of airstrikes on sites that produce and store ballistic missiles, in Tehran and Isfahan.

Strikes caused two explosions at a broadcasting facility in Tehran, Iranian state TV said, adding that no one was injured.

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site had sustained “some recent damage,” though there was “no radiological consequence expected.”

The US hit Natanz during the 12-day war in June, when Israeli and American strikes greatly weakened Iran's nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained, however, that Iran was rebuilding “new sites, new places” underground for making atomic bombs. He offered no evidence to support his claim.

Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, though it has maintained its right to and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed limited activity at two Iranian nuclear sites before the war. Analysts said Tehran was likely assessing damage from the 2025 strikes and possibly salvaging what remained.

Fears rise in Tehran as bombardment of capital intensifies

A north Tehran resident has described growing fears in the capital as it comes under heavy bombardment.

Communications into Iran remain unstable with the internet largely blocked. The resident messaged The Associated Press before dawn on Tuesday. He spoke on the condition of anonymity.

He said a major blast had shaken his building on Monday. “I was by the window and felt the shock wave. Pretty scary, then saw the smoke,” he said.

Most stores in the normally bustling area of Tajrish were closed, he added. Iran has declared an official mourning period following the killing of Khamenei.

The resident said bakeries were open and supermarkets were stocked, but ATMs were mostly “out of cash.” Iran’s economy was already spiraling when the currency crashed to record lows in December.

Attacks in the Gulf

An attack from two drones on the US Embassy in Riyadh caused a “limited fire,” according to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound. It followed an attack on the US Embassy in Kuwait. US Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon said they were closed to the public.

The US State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, the US has urged citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, though with much of the airspace closed many remained stranded. Several other countries arranged evacuation flights for their citizens.

The US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. In Israel, where Iranian missiles struck several locations, 11 people were killed. The Iranian-supported Hezbollah party has also attacked Israel, whose retaliatory strikes killed 52 people in Lebanon.

The US military has confirmed six deaths of American service members. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The conflict is roiling business interests

Iran has hit many countries deemed safe havens in the Middle East in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes. Recent targets included two Amazon data centers in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain. The centers in the UAE were hit, while a drone struck near the one Bahrain, causing damage, the company said.

Iran has also struck energy facilities in Qatar and attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes, sending global oil and natural gas prices soaring.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed,” declared Iranian Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, vowing that any ships that passed through it would be set on fire.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari vowed that Iranian attacks on the gas-rich country “will not go unanswered.”

As oil and natural gas prices climbed, stock prices fell sharply.

Israel sends troops into Lebanon

The conflict has spread to Lebanon, where Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday, prompting Israel to retaliate.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military hit Beirut with more airstrikes and said it had moved additional troops into southern Lebanon and taken new positions on several strategic points close to the border.

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon later said its peacekeepers saw Israeli troops going into and then out of Lebanon. But Israel’s army said its troops are still operating in Lebanon.