On this day in 1922, the Turkish Army launched the Great Offensive (Büyük Taarruz) under Mustafa Kemal Pasha, beginning at Kocatepe.

Within days, Turkish forces drove back the occupying Greek forces and liberated vast areas of Anatolia, culminating in the victory at Dumlupınar on August 30.

Türkiye blocked an Israeli-owned ZIM ship from docking at Istanbul Port, forcing it to reroute to Greece.

Any connection to Israel is prohibited, including cargo headed to the Palestinian Authority.

Ships with Israeli flags/ownership can’t dock in Türkiye.

Israel says it found a rocket in Bethlehem aimed at a settlement and dismantled it.

The "rocket" appears to have homemade “fan”.

Australia is expelling Iran’s ambassador and three diplomats, accusing Tehran of orchestrating antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne last year.

Australia will also list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group while suspending its embassy operations in Tehran.

NEW: The second Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex was captured on an injured journalist’s camera.

Norway pledged $8.5 billion for Ukraine in 2026 under its Nansen Programme, PM Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed alongside Zelensky.

Most of the money will go to military equipment.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM):

U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, concluded a two-week operation targeting ISIS-Somalia in the Puntland region.

A massive dust storm hit Phoenix, causing near-zero visibility, flight delays, downed trees, and power outages for 60,000+ residents.

Trump called Indian PM Modi four times during the tariff clash but Modi refused to answer.

Source: FAZ

Turkish President Erdogan:

Just like all the brotherly peoples in Syria, the guarantee of the Kurds’ security, peace, and well-being is Türkiye.

Those who turn toward Ankara and Damascus will be the ones who prevail.

Turkish President Erdogan:

If the sword leaves its sheath, there’s no room left for the pen or for words.

Nigeria: Army troops killed two suspected Lakurawa terrorists in Sokoto State.

Syrian President al-Sharaa told Al Majalla that Kurdish rights belong in the constitution, not through power-sharing, pointing to his March 10 deal with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi as the basis for dialogue while rejecting any path toward partition.

Syrian President al-Sharaa on the Abraham Accords:

Those agreements involved countries with no disputes and no shared borders with Israel. Syria is different. We have the Golan under occupation. Copying that model is not possible.

The camera zooms in on Trump's hand during his meeting with the South Korean President.

Texas Republican candidate Valentina Gomez dropped a campaign ad where she torches Quran with a flamethrower and says:

Islam must be stopped once and for all… Muslims can f*** off to any of the 57 Muslim nations.

I will end Islam in Texas.

Man claiming to be an Army veteran burned a US flag near the White House to protest Trump’s anti-flag-burning order.

He wasn’t charged for the protest itself, but for setting a fire in a federal park.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany will not join France, Britain, and Canada in recognizing Palestine at next month’s UNGA:

We will not join this initiative. We don’t see the requirements met.