Turkey issues cautions to Israel and YPG about potential disruptions in Syria
In the ongoing efforts to stabilize Syria, Turkey is demanding the YPG (People's Protection Units) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to disarm and integrate into the Syrian national army. This precondition is seen as a crucial step towards reducing security threats and ensuring Syria's territorial integrity.
Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, has publicly urged the YPG to stop delaying the integration agreement reached with the Syrian government in March 2025. Fidan emphasizes that Turkey's security can only be assured once these groups disarm and merge with Syria's armed forces.
Turkey's stance stems from its view of the YPG as a terrorist organization linked to the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), and its insistence that the YPG cease armed activities, disband foreign fighters it hosts, and fully integrate with the Syrian government’s forces.
Meanwhile, Syria's new government, established after Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December 2024, is pursuing full political and military reintegration of the YPG-led forces. The process is expected to conclude by the end of 2025, aiming to restore Syrian state sovereignty over areas controlled by the SDF and ensure all ethnic and religious groups live peacefully within Syria’s territorial integrity.
However, tensions remain. Turkey maintains over 10,000 troops in northern Syria, actively opposing the Kurdish-led autonomous administration and the SDF/YPG armed presence. Turkish pressure on Syria to halt separate Kurdish meetings undermines U.S.-backed political talks involving Kurds. Meanwhile, the YPG/Kurdish leadership resists some Turkish demands, disputing the applicability of PKK disarmament calls to themselves.
Fidan has accused the YPG of being puppets of Israel and urged them to quit forcing Syria's Kurds to be puppets of Israel. He warns the YPG that they should immediately remove themselves as a threat to Turkey and the region.
The current situation is complex, with potential shifts following U.S. military presence and the interplay between the YPG/SDF and other actors like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib adding to uncertainties. Turkey’s stance and cooperation with Syria against terrorist groups, alongside its skepticism about the YPG’s intentions, are central to Syria’s evolving security architecture.
Elsewhere, hundreds were killed in clashes in the southern province of Suwayda between Druze groups, Bedouin tribes, and Israeli military attacks, despite a cease-fire that has been in effect since July 19. The causes and responsibilities behind these clashes remain unclear.
[1] Ankara pledges support for Syria's unity and territorial integrity. [2] Fidan accuses YPG of trying to exploit instability in Syria. [3] Fidan emphasizes Turkey's vision for a post-conflict Syria. [4] Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan of Turkey criticizes Israel for allegedly fueling difficulties and targeting expansionism in Syria. [5] Al-Shibani states that what happened in Suwayda was instigated by Israel to sow sectarian discord in the region.
[1] Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, reiterates Ankara's commitment to supporting Syria's unity and territorial integrity by urging the YPG to disarm and merge with the Syrian national army.[2] In a public address, Fidan accuses the YPG of trying to exploit Syria's instability, citing their alleged links to Israel and attempts to create division among ethnic and religious groups within the country.[3] Fidan emphasizes Turkey's vision for a post-conflict Syria, advocating for a politically and militarily restructured nation that ensures the safety and sovereignty of all ethnic and religious groups.[4] In addition to his criticism of the YPG, Fidan also criticizes Israel for allegedly fueling difficulties and targeting expansionism in Syria, threatening Turkey's security and regional stability.[5] Amidst the ongoing clashes in Suwayda, regional analyst Al-Shibani suggests that the violence was instigated by Israel to sow sectarian discord in the region, further complicating Syria's already complex security landscape.
