NATO Country Considering Assault on US-Supported Kurds, Reports Say
According to a report by Hurriyet, Türkiye and Syria are considering launching an offensive against Kurdish PKK and YPG units unless those groups surrender their weapons. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
According to a report by Hurriyet, Türkiye and the new leadership in Syria may initiate an offensive against US-backed Kurdish forces unless these groups voluntarily integrate with the Syrian military. The Kurdish units in Syria have benefitted from US support for years, although Ankara categorizes them as terrorists.
As noted by the Turkish daily, once a new interim government is fully established following the removal of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, it will appeal to “terrorist organizations, primarily the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and Islamic State, to lay down their weapons and join the Syrian army.”
The report also referenced Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the new de facto leader in Syria, who stated, “it is not possible for us to accept any group having weapons in their hands, even in areas where the PKK and the [Kurdish] People’s Defense Units are present.”
Should the militants fail to comply, “the Syrian army and the Turkish Armed Forces will conduct a joint operation to remove the PKK and YPG from the lands they control,” as per Hurriyet.
The PKK and YPG generally operate in northern Syria, close to Türkiye's border, seeking greater autonomy from both Ankara and Damascus. The YPG has received considerable military support from the US in its efforts against the Islamic State, a fact that has drawn consistent criticism from Ankara, which alleges that some of this assistance may be funneled to the PKK, an organization that the US also designates as terrorist.
Despite years of tension between Türkiye and Syria under Assad's regime, the recent ousting of Assad has seemingly improved bilateral relations. On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with al-Sharaa in Damascus, emphasizing the importance of stability in the war-torn nation and advocating for the lifting of international sanctions that have severely impacted the Syrian economy.
Several Turkish media outlets have suggested that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might visit Syria this week, leading a substantial delegation.
Assad was removed earlier this month following an unexpected jihadist offensive that caught the Syrian military by surprise, and he has since been granted asylum in Russia, which maintains military bases in Syria. Many countries, including Russia, have reestablished contact with the new Syrian leadership.
Regarding the situation of the Kurds in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin implied that Türkiye may consider a military operation against them to drive them from the border area.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
As noted by the Turkish daily, once a new interim government is fully established following the removal of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, it will appeal to “terrorist organizations, primarily the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and Islamic State, to lay down their weapons and join the Syrian army.”
The report also referenced Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the new de facto leader in Syria, who stated, “it is not possible for us to accept any group having weapons in their hands, even in areas where the PKK and the [Kurdish] People’s Defense Units are present.”
Should the militants fail to comply, “the Syrian army and the Turkish Armed Forces will conduct a joint operation to remove the PKK and YPG from the lands they control,” as per Hurriyet.
The PKK and YPG generally operate in northern Syria, close to Türkiye's border, seeking greater autonomy from both Ankara and Damascus. The YPG has received considerable military support from the US in its efforts against the Islamic State, a fact that has drawn consistent criticism from Ankara, which alleges that some of this assistance may be funneled to the PKK, an organization that the US also designates as terrorist.
Despite years of tension between Türkiye and Syria under Assad's regime, the recent ousting of Assad has seemingly improved bilateral relations. On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with al-Sharaa in Damascus, emphasizing the importance of stability in the war-torn nation and advocating for the lifting of international sanctions that have severely impacted the Syrian economy.
Several Turkish media outlets have suggested that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might visit Syria this week, leading a substantial delegation.
Assad was removed earlier this month following an unexpected jihadist offensive that caught the Syrian military by surprise, and he has since been granted asylum in Russia, which maintains military bases in Syria. Many countries, including Russia, have reestablished contact with the new Syrian leadership.
Regarding the situation of the Kurds in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin implied that Türkiye may consider a military operation against them to drive them from the border area.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
