Turkey warns Syria's Islamist rulers to act on Kurdish forces issue

ANKARA,— Turkey has warned Syria’s new Islamist rulers to address the issue of Kurdish forces operating in the country or risk potential military intervention in Syrian Kurdistan.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Wednesday that there would be no reason for Turkey to carry out an offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria if the Syrian rulers appropriately handle the situation.

Fidan was speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, where he emphasized that it is now the responsibility of Syria’s new leadership to resolve the issue.

The Islamist groups has taken over in Damascus, and this issue is mainly their responsibility, Fidan said. “If they handle it properly, there would be no reason for us to get involved.”

The comments come amid rising tensions over the Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria. Recent rumors have suggested Turkey could launch an attack on the Kurdish town of Kobane, located along Syria’s northern border.

However, local sources have reported that while there has been an increased military presence along the Turkish border, there has been no unusual activity.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched three military operations into northern Syria. These incursions have allowed Ankara to seize large swathes of Kurdish land and push 30 kilometers into Syrian territory.

Turkey’s operations are primarily aimed at the Turkey-backed Syrian Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a “terrorist” group due to its alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a separatist group that has led a rebellion in Turkey for decades.

In recent weeks, Turkish-backed Syrian Islamist mercenary militias have captured several Kurdish towns in northern Syria.

The Turkish government, which does not recognize the Kurdish population’s rights within its own borders, fears that Kurdish autonomy in Syria could inspire separatism among its own 22.5 million Kurdish citizens.

According to analysts, Ankara seeks to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish autonomous region or a Kurdish state in Syrian Kurdistan, which could have wider implications for Turkey’s own Kurdish issue.

Reports indicate that Turkey is aiming to replace Kurdish-led control in northern Syria with its Syrian Islamist allies, pushing for the disarmament of U.S.-backed Kurdish forces.

The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the YPG, have been instrumental in establishing a self-governed Kurdish region in northern Syria, known as Rojava, which is recognized for its secular governance and focus on gender equality, direct democracy, and environmental sustainability.

Since the declaration of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in 2018, Rojava has operated under a model of democratic confederalism, which has seen Kurdish forces lead the charge in the fight against ISIS.

The YPG, as the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been credited with being one of the most effective fighting forces against ISIS in Syria. The U.S. has provided arms and military support to these forces, contributing to their success in driving ISIS from its last stronghold in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz in March 2019.

The Kurdish fighters, both male and female, paid a heavy price in the battle against ISIS, with more than 21,000 killed. In addition, Kurdish forces have continued to hold over 12,000 suspected ISIS members in prisons since 2019.

Turkey’s foreign minister, however, remains focused on the Kurdish question, urging the Syria’s rulers to take control of the Kurdish-held areas in the north to avoid further Turkish military intervention.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)