Turkey is “reviewing and rethinking” its military and civilian presence in northern Syria following the fall of the Assad regime last month and the ascent of new authorities led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday.
“We have to reconsider and rethink the modality of our presence there. This is being done right now. Parallel to the steps taken by the new government, Turkey is also reviewing its relations with Syria – the framework, nature and content of its relations,” Mr Fidan said in response to a question from The National at a press briefing in Istanbul.
“Really, we are in a very new process. It has only been a month. But of course we are reviewing this, and our presence there will have to evolve into a different dimension, hopefully, if everything goes well.”
Turkey carried out three major cross-border military operations in Syria, in 2016, 2018 and 2019, to oust Kurdish militias that Ankara views as a national security threat along its southern border. Turkish troops have also carried out patrols to maintain de-escalation zones brokered between Ankara and Assad allies Iran and Russia in northern Syria in 2017, and a ceasefire between them that came into force three years later.
Throughout those operations, Turkey set up military and civilian infrastructures in north-western Syria for around five million people living in pockets held by rebels against the Assad regime, and armed local Syrian fighters alongside Turkish troops. It facilitated cross-border trade and allowed the use of the Turkish lira – a move that rebels welcomed to avoid bankrolling the Assad government through the Syrian central bank.
Following the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime, Turkish officials are holding meetings to review that dynamic, Mr Fidan said during the briefing, which was dominated by questions on Syria as Ankara invests intense diplomacy in its southern neighbour.
“We were providing [residents of rebel-held areas of Syria] with security. We were also contributing to the provision of basic services,” he said. “Now this has become a responsibility for the whole of Syria, not only for us but also for the states of the region. We are working on what kind of steps we can take jointly in this regard. Meetings are being held.”
Turkish ministers and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have widely welcomed the fall of the Assad regime. Turkey had made fruitless efforts to normalise relations with the regime before the lightning rebel offensive that took Damascus and prompted Mr Al Assad to flee to Russia last month.
Alongside Qatar, Turkey was among the first countries to re-open its embassy in Damascus after the takeover by groups led by HTS, a former Al Qaeda affiliate. The Turkish government closed its diplomatic representation in Syria 12 years ago, as the Assad regime led a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
Turkey and other countries in the region including Jordan are discussing ways to continue to support the new administration, as it faces colossal challenges of rebuilding government structures, drafting a new constitution and ensuring aid deliveries reach those most in need. More than 90 per cent of Syrians live in poverty.
“There are some projects that Qatar is currently keeping on the agenda,” Mr Fidan said. “There is Turkey's support in this regard. Jordan has some ideas on this issue. These are currently being brought together. There will be some regional meetings in the coming days … the main topic will definitely be the harmonisation and acceleration of this aid as soon as possible.”
He said a key issue was increasing Syria’s ability to accept international offers of support. Years of sanctions, corruption and kleptocratic government under the Assad regime have left the state with limited capacity to co-ordinate internationally, and the new authorities will have to create new models of operating.
“I hope that their institutional capacities will be sufficient to advance the aid offers and co-operation areas offered to them. We are making the necessary suggestions in this regard,” Mr Fidan said.
He did not specify if Turkey would withdraw the use of the Turkish lira from areas of north-western Syria. But he said there were “parallel discussions and studies going on” to restore trade and a functioning Syrian Central Bank.
The Foreign Minister smiled at a question about reports of possible greater French support for Kurdish militias in north-eastern Syria that are part of a US-led coalition to fight remnants of Islamic State and guard prisons holding thousands of members of the extremist organisation, including foreign nationals. European nations have largely declined to repatriate their nationals allegedly involved in Islamic State activity for legal proceedings.
Turkey sees the US-backed forces, led by the Kurdish People’s Defence Units (YPG) militia, as an extension of the PKK. The group is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and some other countries, and has waged a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state. Eliminating the group is one of Ankara’s top priorities in Syria, Mr Fidan said.
“Some countries in Europe are taking part in operations under a US umbrella … let’s see if they can do an operation without the US,” Mr Fidan said. “If France wants to take a position, they can take back their foreign terrorist fighters, put them in their courts in France and prosecute them.”
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are carrying out ground operations north-east into Kurdish-held territory, which they began late last year in tandem with the HTS-led push towards the Syrian capital.
Both the new leadership in Damascus and the Turkish-backed Syrian fighters oppose Kurdish militias maintaining territorial control of north-eastern Syria, where they expanded rapidly during and after operations against Islamic State between 2014 and 2017. One major risk is infighting between Damascus-led HTS military formations and Turkish-backed fighters if they cannot agree new military structures acceptable to the panoply of armed groups.
Although they backed opposing sides in Syria’s civil war, Turkey kept lines of communication with Russia open during the conflict. Moscow took a “rational” step in deciding not to attempt to keep Mr Al Assad in power as rebels swept across the country last month, Mr Fidan said.
“Russia took a rational decision and decided that it was not of benefit to support Bashar Al Assad any more,” he said. “They saw this before but after Aleppo fell, this was something that they saw. Russia could have used its military capabilities but it did not – we had some contact – because they use a rational actor model.”
Syrian rebels agreed not to attack Russian forces or their bases as they retreated, and the new authorities will hold talks with Moscow over the fate of Russian bases on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
“The new administration in Syria will have some negotiations with the Russian side, and I believe it will evolve accordingly,” Mr Fidan added.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.
Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWafeq%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJanuary%202019%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadim%20Alameddine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Esoftware%20as%20a%20service%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERaed%20Ventures%20and%20Wamda%2C%20among%20others%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Astra%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdallah%20Abu%20Sheikh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%20investment%20and%20development%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
