Defense Ministry

US forces patrol in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh city, in the province of the same name, on Dec. 30, 2024.

Türkiye and the United States are in fresh talks for resolving the problem of the presence of YPG in northern Syria which threatens the security of both Türkiye and Syria.

Russia said on Monday its forces had captured the "important logistics hub" of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine in what would be a key advance after months of steady gains in the area.

Turkish forces "neutralized" more than 3,000 terrorists over the past year as part of ongoing military operations, Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk announced on Jan. 2.

"Our struggle will continue uninterruptedly until the last terrorist is no longer a threat to our country," Aktürk told reporters during a press briefing in the capital Ankara.

Türkiye is prepared to cooperate with Syria's new government in the fight against terrorism, defense officials said on Dec. 26.

The government aims to enhance national defense and address military housing shortages with new initiatives targeting completion by 2030.

Central to these efforts is an anti-aircraft and anti-drone defense system, expected to be operational by autumn 2026.

Türkiye has "neutralized" 21 PKK members in northern Syria and Iraq, near the Turkish border, the country's Defense Ministry said on Dec. 25.

According to the ministry, 20 PKK members were targeted in the areas of Türkiye's Euphrates Shield and Peace Spring operations, while one was targeted in the Claw-Lock operation's zone in northern Iraq.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Wednesday yet again defied summons from investigators who are probing events leading up to the short-lived Dec. 3 martial law, Yonhap news reported.

It was the third time Yoon, 63, refused to attend questioning.

Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed regional defense and security issues, especially Syria, in a phone call on Tuesday, Türkiye's Defense Ministry said on X.

Güler and Austin also discussed bilateral ties during the call, the ministry added.

South Korea's opposition said on Dec. 24 it would hold back a decision to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo until later in the week.

The opposition Democratic Party earlier said it would introduce an impeachment motion against Han on Dec. 24 to protest against the interim leader's refusal to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor.

The Defense Ministry intends to utilize land freed up by the impending closure of ten military camps around the country to strengthen its housing program for Armed Forces personnel, under new proposals discussed by the cabinet at its last sitting this year.