The proximity talks in Geneva are continuing today. U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura met with new opposition delegations last night; a representative of the Cairo, Moscow and Astana Groups said she was optimistic about the discussions but the move could cause problems with the HNC, which has opposed their inclusion in the talks. The head of the Assad regime’s delegation is still refusing to meet directly with the HNC, stating that the HNC’s lead diplomat is a “terrorist.”
Group Claims Responsibility for Ankara Bombing
The Kurdish Freedom Falcons (TAK), a terrorist splinter of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has claimed credit for orchestrating the deadly car bomb attack in Ankara on Sunday that left at least 35 people dead. The TAK has previously claimed responsibility for another bombing in Ankara last month. The German embassy in Ankara and the German consulate and a German school in Istanbul are closedtoday due to a terrorist threat, though it is unclear if the threat is related to the recent bombings. In addition to curfews in southeastern Turkey and airstrikes in Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has responded to the attacks by proposing that the legal definition of terrorism be broadened to include people who facilitated attacks, though this could likely be used to justify further repression of political dissent.