President Erdo?an set to visit Saudi Arabia

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Dec. 29-30 and meet King Salman bin Abdülaziz al-Saud, a written statement from the presidential office has said. 

Erdo?an's official visit comes amid intense diplomatic attempts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis. Turkey recently announced its participation in an anti-terrorist military alliance that consists solely of Sunni states to fight terrorism amid a continuing war on jihadists in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The Saudi-led alliance does not include the kingdom's Shiite regional rival Iran, or Syria and Iraq.

States from the Middle East, Africa and Asia states will participate in the coalition.  

Meanwhile, Syrian opposition groups are preparing for peace talks in Geneva.  

The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing an international road map for a Syrian peace process in a rare show of unity among major powers on a conflict that has claimed more than a quarter of a million lives.

The U.N. plans to convene peace talks in Geneva toward the end of January 2016.

Pictures released by the Armed Forces depict destruction in southeastern Sur amid clashes, curfew

In Photos: Marks of violence visible across Nusaybin after lifting of curfew

In Photos: Turkey celebrates Christmas Eve with services

In photos: Turkey commemorates Rumi with 'Night of Union' ceremony in Konya

In Photos: Ta?yaran Valley in Aegean region to become nature park

Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty

Exhibition shows Istanbul through eyes of children

Secret weapons of Turkish army: locally produced rocket launchers, missile systems

The bugs of Ankara: The weirdest scenes that anyone can run into in...