ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is celebrating the recent developments in Syria, where the new government has effectively dismantled a significant Kurdish-led force following a swift offensive. Ankara has always perceived armed groups led by Kurds, an ethnic minority present in eastern Turkey, Iraq, and northern Syria, as a threat. This perspective is rooted in Turkey’s prolonged struggle against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), whose armed insurgency has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties over the decades.
The collapse of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), just months after a faction in Turkey's PKK agreed to disarm, marks a considerable advancement in Ankara's regional vision. Over a span of just two weeks, the SDF, which was previously the United States' primary ally against the Islamic State group in Syria, lost a substantial portion of its territory in northern Syria due to an offensive spearheaded by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Under mounting pressure, the SDF conceded to terms that required its forces to disband and integrate individually into the Syrian government's military structure rather than as a consolidated unit. Established a decade ago with U.S. backing, the SDF consisted mainly of militias from Syrian Kurdish factions linked to the PKK. Al-Sharaa assumed control following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024 and has been consolidating power while simultaneously addressing opposition challenges from both pro-Assad remnants and former opposition groups keen on maintaining autonomy. Ethnic and religious minority groups have expressed unease regarding the Sunni Arab-led government, which has received significant political and military backing from Turkey.
As the United States opted not to intervene on behalf of the SDF, it shifted its allegiances towards the fledgling Syrian government, focusing on facilitating a ceasefire. Sinan Ulgen, head of the Istanbul-based EDAM research center, remarked that the SDF’s significant loss of influence and territory is highly favorable for Turkey. He underscored that while the recent advances for the Syrian government benefit Ankara, these gains could be fleeting unless al-Sharaa can stabilize northeast Syria.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lauded the Syrian government's progress in comments made to his ruling party’s legislators, reaffirming Turkey's commitment to the sovereignty of a singular Syrian state while opposing any separatist movements along its southern border that threaten national security. Turkish intelligence officials revealed that Turkey played a crucial advisory role during operations that facilitated the SDF's withdrawal from Aleppo, maintaining communication lines with the Syrian administration to protect civilians and manage the safe evacuation of SDF members and their families.
The diminishing influence of the Kurdish group has alleviated a significant point of tension between Turkey and the United States. Experts highlight that the willingness of the U.S. to allow a former ally to be dismantled—following its abandonment of discussions with the SDF—was pivotal for the Syrian government’s success. Erdogan's close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump likely contributed to the U.S. alignment with the Syrian government, represented by the perception that the new authorities are more favorable interlocutors in Syria than a non-state entity.
The absence of direct Israeli intervention amidst rising tensions in Syria was notable, even as some SDF representatives solicited assistance, echoing Israel's previous support for the Druze community. However, a recent meeting between Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris—where Syria acknowledged Israel's southern border influence—seems to have effectively neutralized potential Israeli intervention in favor of the SDF.
Turkish officials are optimistic that the integration of the SDF into the Syrian government's military structure could bolster Ankara’s peace initiatives aimed at resolving its conflict with the PKK. Following a disarmament call from its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan in May, the PKK announced intentions to withdraw fighters to Iraq, although the SDF has resisted similar pressures, asserting their independence. While analysts suggest that the removal of the SDF as an adversarial force is advantageous, concerns persist regarding potential backlash from Turkey's Kurdish community in response to developments in Syria.
On Tuesday, Turkey's pro-Kurdish party cautioned that acts of violence against Kurds in Syria could undermine ongoing peace efforts within Turkey. The party's co-chair, Tulay Hatimogullari, questioned the feasibility of internal tranquility if Kurdish populations in Syria face violence, emphasizing the need for acknowledgment of their concerns in Turkey's reconciliation efforts.
