Turkey’s recent policies in Syria are emblematic of the way a middle power can exert influence in its region, sometimes outmaneuvering seemingly stronger players. Throughout Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011,

President Donald Trump is in Qatar after he met with Syria’s interim president and inked deals in Saudi Arabia. Follow here for the latest live news updates.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan has probably never held more global sway: he will host the first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks in three years on Thursday, days after his country's militant nemesis,

For Turkey, peace with the PKK now would further reduce a weakened Iran’s ability to project power westward. Some groups suspected of being affiliated with the PKK, such as the Sinjar Resistance Units in northern Iraq, have been indirectly supported by Iran.

After Mr. Trump expressed frustration with Russia’s refusal to stop the war, Mr. Putin ordered a three-day cease-fire to begin on May 8, in order to mark the May 9 celebration of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Mr. Zelensky described that pledge as a “ manipulation .”

"We want to want to be sure that he is not a terrorist anymore," senior Israeli official told Newsweek of Syria's Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Turkey's finance minister said the country's economic transformation was on track and that the country was prepared to deal with slower growth.

A previous arms deal agreed during Trump’s first term in 2017 between Saudi Arabia and the also promised a big headline figure. At the time, the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the deal included "an immediate $110 billion investment" which would "grow to $350 billion over the next 10 years".

The decision to disarm will have significant security and political ramifications for the region.

President Trump announced the change in US policy during his speech at a Saudi investment forum, kicking off the first major international trip of his second term.