World 5 sources 2 updates 17 Sept, 01:17

51st Commando Brigade relocated to Söke, Fidan calls on Greece for "good neighborliness"

The 51st Commando Brigade, previously stationed in Tunceli, has been relocated to Söke in Aydın province, opposite Greece's Samos Island, with about 2,000 troops now deployed there. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on Greece for good neighborliness, saying the militarization of the islands poses a threat.

51. Komando Tugayı'nın Söke'ye konuşlanması Yunanistan'ı korkuttu: Sisam Adası göz hapsinde — Photo: A Haber

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18 Sept 2026 Mitsotakis: I have no planned meeting with Erdoğan in New York Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis, speaking to ERTnews, said he saw "a relative hardening" in statements from the Turkish side but that communication channels with Ankara should remain open; he left the door open to a possible last-minute meeting.
16 Sept 2026 51st Commando Brigade relocated to Söke, Fidan calls on Greece for "good neighborliness" The 51st Commando Brigade, previously stationed in Tunceli, has been relocated to Söke in Aydın province, opposite Greece's Samos Island, with about 2,000 troops now deployed there. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on Greece for good neighborliness, saying the militarization of the islands poses a threat.

Türkiye'den Husilerin Mekke’yi hedef almasına tepki — Photo: Hürriyet

World 19 sources 2 updates 17 Sept, 01:17

Türkiye condemns drone attempt targeting Mecca; Houthis deny the claim

Saudi Arabia announced it destroyed a drone south of Mecca on the evening of September 15. Türkiye's Foreign Ministry condemned what it said was a Houthi attempt to target Mecca, while the Houthis denied the claim, saying they had only targeted oil facilities and military bases.

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Where reports differ

State media and pro-government press TRT Haber and Hürriyet reported the incident as a Houthi attack attempt targeting Mecca and highlighted Türkiye's condemnation statement along with reactions from AKP and Communications Directorate officials.

Opposition-leaning and foreign press Evrensel and DW Turkish presented the report as a "claim," and also conveyed Houthi officials' statement that "the claim that Mecca was targeted is a stale lie," as well as the Houthis' counter-claims regarding Saudi airstrikes.

Foreign Ministry Burhanettin Duran Ömer Çelik Saudi Arabia Mecca Turki al-Maliki Shehbaz Sharif