Turkey has canceled a planned visit by Sweden’s defense minister in response to the Nordic country’s issuing of permits for anti-Turkish protests.

U.S. forces have stopped joint military patrols in northern Syria to counter Islamic State extremists, as Turkish threats of a ground invasion stymie those missions with Kurdish forces.

The Turkish Defense Ministry says it has launched airstrikes over northern regions of Syria and Iraq, targeting Kurdish groups Ankara holds responsible for last week’s bomb attack in Istanbul.

Diplomatic efforts have saved a wartime agreement that allowed Ukrainian grain and other commodities to reach world markets.

Ukrainian authorities are claiming increasing success in shooting down Iranian-built drones launched by Russia to terrorize the public.

Russia and Turkey say they support a safe corridor in the Black Sea to export Ukrainian grain to global markets.

Turkey has launched a new ground and air cross-border offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.

Fearing a new refugee crisis, Turkey is reinforcing its border with Iran to stop a potential influx of Afghans fleeing the Taliban insurgency.

Erdogan has toned down his anti-Western and anti-US rhetoric in an apparent effort to reset the rocky relationship with his NATO allies. So far, however, hes been met by silence from U.S. President Joe Biden. Nearly two months into his presidency, Biden still hasnt called Erdogan, which some in Turkey see as a worrying sign. Nearly two months into his presidency, Biden still hasn’t called Erdogan, which some in Turkey see as a worrying sign. Washington insists the sanctions cannot be lifted as long as the Russian system remains on Turkish soil.

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Monday imposed sanctions on its NATO ally Turkey over its purchase of a Russian air defense system, setting the stage for further confrontation between the two nations as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office. Last month, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkey was prepared to discuss with the U.S. its “anxiety” over the interoperability of the S-400s and the F-35s. Turkey tested the missile defense system in October for the first time, drawing a condemnation from the Pentagon. Ankara says it was forced to buy the Russian system because the U.S. refused to sell it American-made Patriot missiles. The Turkish government has also pointed to what it considers a double standard, as NATO member Greece uses Russian-made missiles.

A Turkish court sentenced several military and civilian personnel at an air base to life prison sentences on Thursday, proclaiming them guilty of involvement in a failed coup attempt in 2016, the state-run news agency reported. (AP Photo)ANKARA – A Turkish court sentenced hundreds of military and civilian personnel at an air base to life prison sentences Thursday, proclaiming them guilty of involvement in the 2016 failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. Gulen, who was also named among the defendants, has denied involvement in the coup that resulted in around 250 deaths and injured thousands. A total of 318 other defendants were also sentenced to life prison terms. Other defendants received prison terms ranging between six and 16 years.

BERLIN – Germany's defense minister on Tuesday rejected Turkey's complaints over the search of a Turkish freighter in the Mediterranean Sea by a German frigate participating in a European mission, insisting that German sailors acted correctly. The German ship is part of the European Union's Irini naval mission, which is enforcing an arms embargo against Libya. German officials say that the order to board the ship came from Irini’s headquarters in Rome and that Turkey objected while the team was on board. Turkey says the search was “unauthorized and conducted by force.”German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer backed the German crew's actions. Kramp-Karrenbauer stressed that “Turkey is still an important partner for us in NATO.” Turkey being outside the military alliance would make the situation even more difficult, she argued, and Turkish soldiers are “absolutely reliable partners” in NATO missions.

The region lies in Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the end of a separatist war in 1994. Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war there ended in 1994. While authorities in Azerbaijan and Armenia have denied targeting civilians, residential areas have increasingly come under shelling amid the hostilities. The Azerbaijani military declared Saturday that they downed an Armenian Su-25 jet, a claim quickly dismissed by Armenia’s Defense Ministry. The Armenian military said they downed three Azerbaijani drones over the territory of Armenia on Saturday.

The Turkish search vessel, Oruc Reis, left the port of Antalya on Monday for a mission ending Oct. 22. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said the vessel was continuing with its “planned and scheduled activities,” adding that the Turkish navy would provide “support and protection” if necessary. The common denominator is Turkey,” Dendias said — referring to regional hot spots in which Ankara has a military presence or active diplomatic involvement. A ministry statement accused Greece of declaring military exercises in the Aegean Sea to coincide with Turkey’s Oct. 29 national day celebrations. ___Suzan Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey.

Greece's prime minister outlined plans Saturday to upgrade the country's defense capabilities, including purchasing new fighter planes, frigates, helicopters and weapons systems amid heightened tensions with Turkey over rights to resources in the eastern Mediterranean. (Thodoris Manolopoulos/Greek President's Office via AP)ATHENS – The Greek government welcomed a Turkish survey vessel's return to port Sunday from a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean that has been at the heart of a summer stand-off between Greece and Turkey over energy rights. We will see how this develops to make a proper assessment,″ Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told TV channel Skai. The dispute over potential oil and gas reserves has triggered a military build-up in the eastern Mediterranean. Nominal NATO allies Turkey and Greece both dispatched warships to the area where the Oruc Reis was engaged in seismic research and conducted military exercises to assert their claims.

In this photo provided by the Greek Defense Ministry, warships take part in a military exercise in Eastern Mediterranean sea, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Turkey is accusing France of stoking tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, where NATO allies Turkey and Greece are locked in a stiff standoff over competing claims over offshore energy exploration rights. On Thursday, France was set to join Italy, Greece and Cyprus in three-day air and sea military exercises off the east Mediterranean island. Greek military officials said Thursday the United Arab Emirates have sent four fighter jets and five military transport planes to an airbase on Crete for joint training with Greek forces. Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Greece, and Lorne Cook in Brussels, contributed to this report.

Skirmishes on the volatile Armenia-Azerbaijan border escalated Tuesday, marking the most serious outbreak of hostilities between the neighbors since the fighting in 2016. Armenia's Defense Ministry accused Azerbaijani forces of trying to infiltrate the country. On Thursday, Armenian officials said 20 servicemen have been injured since Sunday, with one of them in grave condition. Armenian and Azerbaijani forces have frequently engaged in clashes. The latest incident began Sunday when Armenian and Azerbaijani troops exchanged fire in the northern section of their border.