Iran to supply drones to Kurds in Syria, Turkish outlet claims

QAMISHLO,— Iran has reportedly agreed to supply 1,500 suicide drones to the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syrian Kurdistan to counter Turkey’s ongoing military operations, according to a report published Sunday by Yeni Şafak, a conservative Turkish newspaper supportive of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The YPG, a key component of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), controls large parts of northeastern Syria under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). The Kurdish militia has been recognized as one of the most effective forces in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, receiving U.S. military support, including arms and training.

Despite its critical role in combating IS, Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara classifies as a “terrorist” organization. The SDF, however, denies any formal ties to the PKK and accuses Turkey of using such claims as a pretext for its incursions into the Kurdish region territories.

The report alleges that Iranian officials and representatives of the Kurdish group met at a market in Iraq, where the YPG initially requested 2,000 drones. Iran, however, reportedly agreed to supply only 1,500 units. The deal has not been independently verified, and both Iran and the YPG have yet to comment on the matter.

On January 14, 2025, the SDF denied report from Turkish media that they had received drones from Iran. They clarified that their drones are made locally.

Despite the purported agreement, delivery of the drones has reportedly been delayed due to Turkey’s intensified surveillance and threats to intercept such transfers into Syria. Ankara’s pressure has allegedly stalled cooperation between Iran and the Kurdish forces.

In response to Turkish opposition, the YPG is said to have shifted its strategy, reportedly attempting to transport drone components separately to evade detection. However, analysts suggest the effectiveness of this tactic remains uncertain, given Turkey’s continued military operations along the border and its firm stance against Kurdish forces.

According to analysts, Turkey, which refuses constitutional recognition of its Kurdish population exceeding 23 million, is concerned that the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region or state in Syrian Kurdistan could fuel separatist ambitions among its own Kurdish citizens

The situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region, as Kurdish groups remain at the center of international power struggles involving Turkey, Iran, and the United States.

(With files from jpost.com)