Most Turkish newspapers cover reactions to militant group, the Islamic State, (formerly known as ISIL) ongoing clashes with Kurdish Peshmerga forces near the city of Erbil. IS claims that they have taken control of Makhmur, a town in the southwest of Erbil, the capital of Kurdish regional government in Iraq. MILLIYET runs with the headline "Signal of an intervention," referring to allegations in the U.S media that Obama is contemplating military action. The newspaper quoted the U.S. based-news agency ABC that "Obama authorized air strikes and humanitarian aid mission in Iraq". The front page of today's HABERTURK reads: "the IS meetings in Ankara." The newspaper reports that Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had a meeting in the morning (Thursday) and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at midnight about the latest developments in Iraq. The newspaper claims that high officials discussed the safety of the 49 consulate staff members in Mosul (captured by IS militants in June) and Turkey's position in a possible intervention in the region.
According to the newspaper, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, Turkey's Land Forces Commander Hulusi Akar, Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie Forces Servet Yoruk and Turkey's intelligence chief, Hakan Fidan attended Davutoglu's meeting. The newspaper said that General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, Necdet Ozel, the armed forces' second commander Yasar Guler, Yoruk, FM Davutoglu and Fidan attended the meeting at the prime ministry.
Most Turkish newspapers also cover the heavy rain that struck Turkey's largest city Istanbul. Driving rain, strong winds and prolonged lightning disrupted traffic in Turkey's biggest city on Thursday, causing misery for thousands of commuters trying to get home.
HABERTURK runs with a story claiming the heavy rains and storms in Turkey will continue until September. The newspaper quotes Nuzhet Dalfes from Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences saying Turkey might face more cyclones in the future.
YENI SAFAK reports that a 16-year old died after the flood in Turkey's Aegean province of Izmir. The newspaper report that flights to and from Istanbul's Ataturk airport were temporarily suspended.
HURRIYET reports the death of a 18-year-old who was struck by lightning in Sakarya province, located in Turkey's Black Sea coast. Two people were also injured after the incident, the newspaper reported.