ISTANBUL: T&uuml;rkiye on Friday appointed an ambassador to Syria, whose new rulers it has supported since they came to power in December, a diplomatic source told AFP. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan named his deputy, Nuh Yilmaz, as T&uuml;rkiye&#39;s ambassador to Damascus, the source said. Until now, T&uuml;rkiye had been represented in its southern neighbour by a charge d&#39;affaires. The appointment of a close associate of the foreign minister is being interpreted as an important diplomatic signal. Yilmaz has served as deputy foreign minister since May 2024, said the ministry. Like Fidan, Yilmaz hails from the National Intelligence Organization and is fluent in English, having held several posts in Washington and taught in the United States. Ankara and Damascus had severed diplomatic ties under Syria&#39;s toppled ruler Bashar al-Assad Since December, the two countries have been strengthening their ties and cooperation, both economically and militarily.&nbsp;

Middle East

Türkiye has appointed an ambassador to Syria, whose new rulers it has supported since they came to power in December

Türkiye appoints ambassador to Syria

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: At least 14 migrants killed after an inflatable boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Bodrum in Turkey&rsquo;s Mugla province on Friday, Turkish authorities said. The vessel sank near Ortakent in the Aegean Sea after departing from the nearby Bitez area earlier in the day. According to the Mugla Governor&rsquo;s Office, the boat had 18 migrants on board, reportedly including Afghan nationals. About ten minutes after setting out, the vessel began taking on water and quickly sank.&nbsp; One survivor swam for nearly six hours before reaching shore and alerting authorities, while another was rescued on Celebi Island, the coast guard confirmed. &ldquo;Additional Coast Guard boats and a helicopter were deployed to support the operations,&rdquo; Turkish officials said. &ldquo;The bodies of 14 migrants were recovered.&nbsp; Search and rescue efforts for other missing migrants continue under the coordination of the Coast Guard, using four boats, a dive team, and a helicopter.&rdquo; The rescue mission involved four Turkish Coast Guard vessels, a diving team, and an aerial unit that responded after receiving a distress call from the 112 Emergency Call Center.&nbsp; Two migrants were rescued, and operations are ongoing for two others still unaccounted for. It is not clear whether the migrants were attempting to reach the nearby Greek island of Kos, a common destination for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.&nbsp; The tragedy comes just days after Turkey launched a nationwide crackdown on human trafficking networks, detaining over 160 suspects accused of facilitating illegal migration.

Europe

At least 14 migrants, reportedly including Afghans, drowned after a boat capsized off Turkey’s Bodrum coast. Two survivors were rescued as authorities continue searching amid a nationwide crackdown on human trafficking networks

Articles tagged with "Türkiye"

Türkiye appoints ambassador to Syria

14 migrants killed as boat capsizes off Türkiye's Bodrum

Türkiye appoints ambassador to Syria