What are the options for Ankara, Damascus, and Washington in dealing with the “SDF”?
Despite Western calls for Turkey to calm the situation in Syria, Ankara has declared its determination to eradicate what it considers terrorist organizations in Syria, specifically referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
After the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Ankara seeks to weaken the US-backed Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, which might put it at odds with its Western allies, primarily Washington.
Turkish political analyst Hamza Tekin confirmed that there are no agreements between Ankara and the SDF, and all media reports about negotiations and ceasefires between the two sides are false, evidenced by the ongoing Turkish bombardment and attacks in northeastern Syria.
Tekin stated that Ankara is in agreement with Damascus that control over all Syrian territories should be by Damascus and not by any other groups, suggesting a convergence that could lead to a large-scale military operation in northeastern Syria against the PKK and SDF organizations.
He accused these organizations of being “terrorist and no different from ISIS, having destroyed and targeted civilians in the areas they controlled.” Additionally, he mentioned that there is an agreement “between Washington and Ankara to fight terrorist organizations in Syria.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told her Turkish counterpart in Ankara on Friday that the security of the Kurds is crucial for a peaceful future in Syria.
Baerbock told journalists after her meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that “security, especially for the Kurds, is essential for a free and secure future of Syria,” warning against the risks of any “escalation” against the Kurdish forces in Syria.
Ankara considers the SDF an extension of the PKK, which has been fighting an armed insurgency against it since the 1980s. A Turkish Defense Ministry source on Thursday said that Ankara will
not back down until the Kurdish fighters are disarmed.
Nawaf Khalil, Director of the Kurdish Studies Center, said:that the SDF is not listed as a terrorist organization by any country in the world except Turkey.
He added that Washington has recently announced continued support for the SDF, and no
statements have been issued by leaders of the Syrian opposition factions regarding the SDF.
Khalil noted that Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the leader of these factions, revealed in his media statements
the commencement of communication between Damascus and the SDF to resolve issues between
the parties.
Khalil reiterated the importance of the SDF’s role in fighting ISIS on the ground in Syria, while
CENTCOM announced that the war against terrorist organizations continues.
Regarding accusations of PKK fighters being part of the SDF ranks, Khalil stated that the PKK
itself confirmed it no longer has fighters in Syria, acknowledging a past presence where they
helped and fought with the SDF against ISIS.
Khalil emphasized that the SDF has shown readiness to establish a weapon-free zone with Turkey
under American supervision, while many Western countries have called on Turkey to stop
fighting the SDF, who have been combating ISIS for years.
On his part, analyst Tekin said that Ankara’s view of ISIS, SDF, and PKK as terrorist organizations
is consistent, having committed numerous atrocities against civilians.
Concerning Washington’s stance on this crisis, Lawrence Wilkerson
a former official in the U.S. State Department, did not rule out that his country might change its
stance on the Kurds. Wilkerson told Alhurra that he does not exclude the possibility of the U.S.
abandoning the Kurds in Syria as part of an agreement with Erdogan.
While an alliance of opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a surprise attack
leading to the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Turkey-backed factions began a parallel
operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria, resulting in clashes that left hundreds dead
within days.
Thousands rallied in the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Thursday in support of the
Kurdish-led SDF and in protest against Turkish intervention.
