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Levent Kemal

@leventkemal.bsky.social
2.2K followers 269 following 127 posts

Journalist - Analyst Conflict zones, terrorism, and security Bylines at @MiddleEastEye @AJStudies @ActaFabulae Circassian

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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 23h
My latest: Syria may send token force to Saudi Arabia Deploying a token Syrian force to Saudi Arabia in the near term could offer Damascus a strategic opening to ease regional isolation, as Türkiye Today understands from talks with multiple regional sources. www.turkiyetoday.com/region/syria...
turkiyetoday.com
Syria may send token force to Saudi Arabia amid increasing US pressure - Türkiye Today
Damascus could soon deploy a token military force to Saudi Arabia in a bid to ease diplomatic pressure from the US
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Turkish FM Fidan and the MoD have both confirmed our report. CONFIRMED EXCLUSIVE: Turkey is preparing to deploy troops, air defenses, pilots, and aircraft to Saudi Arabia to protect key infrastructure and major cities without directly intervening in Yemen. www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
middleeasteye.net
Turkey to deploy troops and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
Ankara aims to send additional personnel, pilots and aircraft to help protect Saudi infrastructure in the coming weeks, with further deployments subject to parliamentary approval
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
198.000+ buildings (328.000+ housing units) have been destroyed in Gaza by Israel. Total damage is estimated at $71 billion. Infrastructure capacity has fallen to just 2%. 2M people are homeless, without reliable access to water, food, or protection. The genocide has now entered its third year.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Three years of war in Gaza, in data I built a chart-only infographic of the war since Oct. 7, 2023. It draws on ACLED and U.N. sources (OCHA, IPC, FTS, and UNOSAT).
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I’ve compiled the latest 24-hour battlefield developments, territorial control, key statements, and indicators to watch. Ethiopia’s conflict is entering a new phase: Mekelle is under government control, the ENDF is advancing north, and fighting has opened in Raya. PDF link: lnkd.in/p/d49FiAX2
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Energy and Mining Weekly Bulletin is now live! • Market-moving developments • Supply disruptions and infrastructure risks • Company and project intelligence • Commodity and market data • Geopolitical impacts on physical markets • Key developments to watch next www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
linkedin.com
Energy & Mining Weekly Bulletin | Levent Kemal
The Energy and Mining Weekly Bulletin is now live! A weekly intelligence brief connecting energy, mining, commodities, supply chains and geopolitics.It tracks: • Market-moving developments • Supply ...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Middle East Weekly Bulletin is now live. A weekly brief covering politics, conflict, energy, economy, and humanitarian developments across the Middle East. It connects events, data, and evidence to track what is changing, what matters, and what to watch next. www.linkedin.com/pulse/middle...
linkedin.com
MIDDLE EAST WEEKLY BULLETIN
Week of 26 September – 3 October 2026 Politics, conflict, energy and shipping, economy and humanitarian developments across the Middle East — Prepared by: Levent Kemal Download PDF Version 1. Executiv...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
My latest for: How Netanyahu sold the FlyDubai terror narrative to Israeli voters and Donald Trump www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/how-...
turkiyetoday.com
How Netanyahu sold FlyDubai terror narrative to Israeli voters and Donald Trump - Türkiye Today
The FlyDubai cockpit attack offers Benjamin Netanyahu a timely and powerful security narrative just days ahead of the Israeli election.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Our latest - Exclusive: Mali’s Tuareg separatists seek Turkey talks, reveal Russian contact. www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusi...
middleeasteye.net
Exclusive: Mali’s Tuareg separatists seek Turkey talks, reveal Russian contact
FLA spokesperson tells MEE that dialogue with the Africa Corps does not signal any rapprochement
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
My latest: Turkey is simultaneously building nuclear energy, data centers, GPU capacity, and domestic AI infrastructure. In the AI era, energy and computing are becoming issues of national sovereignty. What Turkey is building for the AI era: www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/why-...
turkiyetoday.com
Why Türkiye's nuclear push is really an AI strategy - Türkiye Today
Türkiye's nuclear investments in Akkuyu and Sinop are laying the critical energy foundation for its future artificial intelligence infrastructure
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
My latest: • Was Israel’s Abu al-Duhur strike really just a message to Turkey? • How does the Israeli military view the crisis? • Why Is Netanyahu defying Trump’s demands? • How Ankara turned the crisis into a Tel Aviv–Washington problem www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/how-...
turkiyetoday.com
Netanyahu’s Abu al-Duhur strike in Syria: A letter sent to the wrong mailbox - Türkiye Today
Following the Abu al-Duhur strike, Türkiye shifts the crisis from an Ankara-Tel Aviv standoff into a broader Washington dialogue
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
My latest: What does Türkiye’s new PKK law actually do? A concise breakdown of the legislation, its conditions and exclusions, and why conflict-resolution processes are typically handled through parliament rather than referendums. www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/what...
turkiyetoday.com
What Türkiye’s new PKK law actually does—and what it doesn't - Türkiye Today
Türkiye's PKK peace process was saved from collapse after Parliament took its first tangible step toward dissolution of the group
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
My assessment: The Makkah Agreement is less about forming a new military bloc than it is about establishing a regional deterrence framework among three countries whose strategic interests are increasingly aligned as security threats rise. leventkemai.substack.com/p/the-makkah...
leventkemai.substack.com
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement: A New Regional Security Model
Beyond its collective defence clause, the Makkah Agreement signals a broader realignment of regional partnerships driven by shared security concerns and strategic interests.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Set to Sign Defense Pact Amid Regional Security Concerns leventkemai.substack.com/p/turkey-sau...
leventkemai.substack.com
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Set to Sign Defense Pact Amid Regional Security Concerns
The planned agreement comes as Gulf states seek new security partnerships following a period of heightened regional uncertainty.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
My latest: One crisis. Five agreements. One message. What happened in Ankara wasn’t just diplomacy; it was a glimpse of a new geopolitical order taking shape, where energy corridors, Iraq’s future, and Iran’s influence collided in real time. CLICK: www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/1-cr...
turkiyetoday.com
1 crisis, 5 agreements, 1 message: Hidden story of Ankara summit - Türkiye Today
Despite a minor diplomatic scandal Turkiye and Iraq signed historic energy deals reshaping the region's geopolitical landscape.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
My latest: Ankara Summit’s real story lies in defense contracts, not diplomacy. Türkiye is simultaneously seeking defense-industrial reconciliation with the US while also pursuing a share of Europe’s rearmament spending. www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/anka...
turkiyetoday.com
Ankara Summit’s real story lies in defense contracts, not diplomacy - Türkiye Today
The Turks will focus on three main issues, and they will define the success of the NATO summit in Ankara
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Our latest with @ragipsoylu.bsky.social : Russia rejects Turkish ceasefire push in Ukraine ahead of Nato summit, sources say www.middleeasteye.net/news/russia-...
middleeasteye.net
Russia rejects Turkish ceasefire push in Ukraine ahead of Nato summit, sources say
Ankara had hoped a ceasefire could pave the way for Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey during the July Nato summit, but Moscow remains firm on its Donbas demands
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Today's brief covers two stories that will define the next 60 days of global order. www.linkedin.com/posts/levent...
linkedin.com
Daily Brief – 15 June 2026 | Levent Kemal
Today's brief covers two stories that will define the next 60 days of global order. The US-Iran MOU — what's in it, what's deliberately missing, and why the hard part hasn't started yet. The G7 in É...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
On LinkedIn : Weekly Intelligence Brief | 7–13 June 2026 www.linkedin.com/posts/levent...
linkedin.com
Weekly Intelligence Brief | Levent Kemal
Weekly Intelligence Brief | 7–13 June 2026 The US-Israel war on Iran crossed its 100th day this week. Two distinct escalation cycles played out within seven days — each forced into reverse by economi...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
My latest: Erdogan's speech on Israel was not a threat. It was a calibrated warning, shaped by a regional architecture Ankara can no longer afford to ignore. As Israel's strategy to isolate Turkey quietly unravels, the real story is what comes next. www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/a-wa...
turkiyetoday.com
A warning, not a threat: Understanding Erdogan’s speech on Israel - Türkiye Today
Tel Aviv has been exerting intense effort to vilify Türkiye on the international stage amid the conflict in Gaza and escalating tensions with Iran
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Our latest: Ceasefires and construction: How Israel is cementing its presence in Lebanon and Syria Satellite imagery points to a long-term Israeli presence in Lebanon and Syria. www.middleeasteye.net/news/ceasefi...
middleeasteye.net
Ceasefires and construction: How Israel is cementing its presence in Lebanon and Syria
Satellite imagery shows Israel has developed a string of bases from the Mediterranean to the Yarmouk River in newly occupied territory. Sources say it looks like they're here to stay
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Our report is out. Report on the chokepoint strategy implemented by #JNIM to bring #Bamako to its knees: Kayes triangle. With Hasret Kargın & Recep Yiğit www.mintelworld.com/reports/kaye...
mintelworld.com
Kayes Triangle: JNIM's Chokepoint Strategy - Mintel World
Revised version with those constraints applied: The Kayes Triangle has emerged as the central fault line of Mali’s contemporary conflict economy. Hosting nearly 80% of industrial gold production and ...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, official spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front: “The Syrian experience is an inspiration to us, and the world’s perception is changing, just as it did with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.”
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
The convoy is entering Bamako via the only route where JNIM has not intervened. The other routes, however, lie within JNIM’s operational areas. There is no access in or out via the Kouremalé, Santiguila, and Kati routes. bsky.app/profile/afri...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
A new poll shows Trump’s Iran war has reached Iraq- and Vietnam-era disapproval levels. 61% say the use of force against Iran was a mistake, while only 19% believe US actions have been successful. Poll also finds rising fears over recession, terrorism risks, and higher gas prices. t.co/cJikro3jqz
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
FLA frames its fight as a defensive war, stressing its commitment to self-defense. Also asserts its actions align with the principles of Islam and international humanitarian law. A highly political-diplomatic statement. Terminology familiar from Syria. bsky.app/profile/leve...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
FLA rejected terrorism accusations. FLA accused Mali’s army and Wagner-linked forces of serious abuses against civilians, calling on the international community to take a clearer stance. FLA also called on countries, including Turkey, to reassess their engagement with Bamako.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
20 Turkish citizens from the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attacked by Israel, will arrive in Istanbul today at 17:00 from Crete through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
IS describes the FLA as nationalist and democratic and accuses al-Qaeda of flirting with the international system in Mali after Afghanistan and Syria. It argues that JNIM’s cooperation with the FLA has pushed the group into a more political posture. bsky.app/profile/leve...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
JNIM is shifting from a purely military actor to a political alternative to Mali’s junta, adopting a “national front” narrative and positioning itself for a broader, inclusive transition. Bamako is now a political target—not just a military one.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Russians always retreat from one remote garrison or give major loss in the Tuareg's desert. t.co/E2eQnBbRoQ
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
JNIM claims its fighters targeted several Malian army positions this morning, saying they took full control of Hombori in the Douentza region and seized two checkpoints in Fana and Kassela, near Bamako. bsky.app/profile/leve...
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Latest situation in Mali After 25 -28 April FLA - JNIM joint operation
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
In 2019, at his most vulnerable, Sharaa recalled a childhood dream, that one day he would become the Emir of Damascus. Five years later, he rules all of Syria. Read our Big Story with @ragipsoylu.bsky.social to understand how he changed to win. www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/sy...
middleeasteye.net
How Turkey helped engineer Ahmed al-Sharaa's rise to power
Sharaa's pragmatism and close relationship with Turkey helped open doors, leading to his transformation from jihadist leader to rebel statesman and finally Syrian president
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
My latest: Turkey eyes second-hand Eurofighter jets from Qatar • Sources say Ankara close to securing a deal as Turkey’s defence minister visits Doha With Ragıp Soylu t.co/eSRe59QEC5
t.co
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-eyes-second-hand-eurofighter-jets-qatar
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Rabbi Henry Hamra has become a parliamentary candidate in Syria. He will be standing in tomorrow's elections. If Henry Hamra is elected as a member of parliament, he will be the first Jewish member of parliament elected since 1940.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
My column: Trump and Blair’s proposed transitional rule for Gaza risks repeating Iraq’s mistakes: dismantling local structures, deepening anger, radicalization and fueling future conflict. www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/trum...
turkiyetoday.com
Trump’s Gaza plan may lead to new wave of radicalization like Bremer’s CPA - Türkiye Today
Trump's fragile Gaza ceasefire plan may lead to a new wave of radicalization in Palestine, argues Türkiye Today contributor Levent Kemal
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Our article with Ömer Özkızılcık for Atlantic Council about economic engagement between Syria & Turkey. Turkey–Syria trade hits $2B in 2025, with $14B pledged for reconstruction and new pipelines powering ties. www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...
atlanticcouncil.org
Is a new era of Turkey-Syria economic engagement on the horizon?
The convergence of Turkey's and the Gulf's economic strategies in Syria presents an opportunity for Washington.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Gazans have been fighting, dying, displacing and starved, and for two years the world has done nothing but talk.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Our exclusive report with @ragipsoylu.bsky.social: Turkey to train Niger army in fight against militant groups. - Ankara plans to send battle-hardened military advisers to Niamey as Turkish government crafts a Sahel strategy to deepen relations www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...
middleeasteye.net
Exclusive: Turkey to train Niger army in fight against militant groups
Ankara plans to send battle-hardened military advisers to Niamey as Turkish government crafts a Sahel strategy to deepen relations
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
My latest: Israel admits it has no precise intel on Hamas or hostages in Gaza City. Yet it’s using robots, tanks & paratroopers to crush the city — treating every civilian as Hamas. This is collective punishment, not counterterrorism. www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-isr...
middleeasteye.net
How Israel is using robots, exploding vehicles and paratroopers to erase Gaza City
Israeli officers say the army doesn’t have precise intel on Hamas or captives, but driving the Palestinians to the south is a clear objective
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Russia’s drone strikes in Poland show Cold War deterrence is broken. NATO shoots them down at huge cost, while Moscow bets the West has “a sharp sword but a shaky hand.” Deterrence now needs not just weapons but political courage and cheaper defences. www.economist.com/internationa...
economist.com
Cold war deterrence doesn’t work any more
Why the West is finding it so hard to deter China and Russia
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Israel Is Orchestrating an Economic Collapse in the West Bank · Israel revoked 115,000 Palestinian work permits · Unemployment >30% (was 12.9%) · Israel withheld nearly $2.3B in Palestinian tax revenues · PA debt soared to $13B (130% of GDP) foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/17/i...
foreignpolicy.com
Israel Is Orchestrating an Economic Collapse in the West Bank
Job losses are only one factor in the equation driving its financial decline.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
In summer, Steve Witkoff met UAE royal Sheikh Tahnoon, who controls $1.5T in wealth. Soon after, Tahnoon’s firm invested $2B in a Trump-linked crypto startup, and the White House approved Emirati access to vast numbers of advanced AI chips. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/u...
nytimes.com
Anatomy of Two Giant Deals: The U.A.E. Got Chips. The Trump Team Got Crypto Riches.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
The Lies America Tells Itself About the Middle East t.co/V0fJuxZl7j
t.co
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/lies-america-tells-itself-about-middle-east-gaza
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
NEW: Kurdish refugee camp to be evacuated under Turkey, Iraq deal • Makhmour Camp, seen by Ankara as a PKK stronghold, will be emptied by September under a Turkey-Iraq-KRG agreement, sources say www.middleeasteye.net/news/kurdish...
middleeasteye.net
Kurdish refugee camp to be evacuated under Turkey, Iraq deal
Makhmour Camp, seen by Ankara as a PKK stronghold, will be emptied by September under a Turkey-Iraq-KRG agreement, sources say
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
The UK is still flying surveillance missions over Gaza to help Israel - despite mass civilian deaths and starvation. RAF Shadow R1s flew from Cyprus, gathering intel, as the MoD stays silent on current aircraft. www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
thetimes.com
RAF still carrying out surveillance flights over Gaza for Israel
The UK is handing over intelligence from British spy planes to ‘help find the remaining hostages’ in the Palestinian territory, government sources confirm
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Support journalism. Those who want to help me to continue my journalism activities can support me by clicking on the link. >> buymeacoffee.com/tklvnttkb
buymeacoffee.com
Levent Kemal
I try to work as an independent journalist and have published numerous high-profile reports and reports on conflict zones and security issues. Journalism is a passion for me. If I can get sponsorship,
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Before Afrin operation, Turkish officials told YPG leaders “When states reach an agreement, it's only a matter of time before organizations like you cease to exist.” But YPG, confident in continued Russian support, refused to withdraw from Afrin. It's a similar situation now.
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Levent Kemal @leventkemal.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
I’ve never been one of those who study radicalism without ever speaking to a single radical, or who claim expertise on conflict zones they’ve never visited or visit only once a year. Nor do I produce so-called exclusive stories based solely on open sources. I make a point of avoiding that approach.
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