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Turkiye's interference in Syrian affairs

 

by Martin Aslan

Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime fell in December 2024. The entire country now has to be rebuilt, reorganized, and unified. For its part, Russia, a supporter of Bashar al-Assad, seems to have been pushed out of Syria. Although the Daesh caliphate fell in March 2019, its actions still represent a danger for Syria and the surrounding countries. In this chessboard, Türkiye is positioning itself as Syria's 'savior' by supporting the new government. It is offering military assistance in the fight against Daesh terrorism and, above all, against the Kurds, Türkiye's sworn enemies. Syria is thus being conditioned by Türkiye, which is seeking to impose its anti-Kurdish position. Let's not forget that the Arab-Kurdish forces (SDF1) played an active part in the fight against Daesh.

The civil war in Syria


In the context of the Arab Spring, peaceful demonstrations against the regime of Bashar al-Assad were violently repressed by the authorities. This protest turned into an armed rebellion, with the formation of militias that were also at odds with each other. The Islamist rebels split into several militias under the domination of al-Qaeda and Daesh. Other Islamist factions controlled by Türkiye took advantage of the situation to fight the Syrian Kurdish fighters engaged against Daesh. Russia has also taken advantage of the situation to strengthen its footprint in the Mediterranean by developing military bases in Latakia, Tartous, and Khmeimim. While Daesh and al-Qaeda were threatening regional and international stability, Bashar al-Assad was concentrating on staying in power by repressing his population with Russia's help. Türkiye, for its part, has concentrated, and continues to concentrate, its resources on eliminating the Syrian Kurdish forces engaged against Daesh.





The Kurds of Syria: objectives and commitments


The Kurdish population in the Middle East is spread across four neighboring countries: Iran, Iraq, Türkiye, and Syria. This population totals around 45 million people. The Kurds' demands are diverse, but their common objective is to be recognized as a people of Kurdish culture and language. The foundation of a 'Greater Kurdistan' (without a recognized border) is not feasible today. However, the Kurds of Iraq have achieved territorial autonomy under the tutelage of Baghdad. The ambition of the Syrian Kurds is much the same. On 17 March 2016, a joint assembly of Kurdish, Assyrian, Arab, and Turkmen delegates proclaimed the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. They demonstrated their cohesion with the SDF by committing themselves to the war against Daesh until its defeat, at the cost of thousands of deaths in their ranks. Supported by an international coalition, the SDF continued their fight against the residual elements of Daesh and took over the camps and prisons located in northeastern Syria. Considering the al-Hol camp alone, 50,000 people linked to Daesh are controlled by the SDF.




Turkish interference


Since the 1980s, Türkiye has been fighting the PKK2 factions on its own territory, but also in Iraqi Kurdistan, which has become a safe haven. Initially, the PKK demanded independence, but its objectives evolved in the '90s towards demands for autonomy and increased political and cultural rights. In the absence of constructive negotiation, the conflict with the PKK Kurds escalated and spread to Iraq against factions of the PKK, and to Syria against the PYD/YPG3. Türkiye considers this party to be affiliated with the PKK. Like the Kurds in Iraq, the PYD has claimed autonomy for Rojava, comprising the cantons of Afrin, Kobane, and Jazira. Türkiye takes a dim view of the autonomy of a Kurdish territory on its border. However, it is up to the new Syria to negotiate this issue. In both Iraq and Syria, Türkiye is now interfering and constantly violating the territorial integrity of its two neighbors. In this spirit, it has carried out more strikes against the Kurds in Iraq and Syria than against Daesh positions over the last 10 years.

Türkiye's desire to come to Syria's aid is not therefore disinterested. Under Türkiye's influence and pressure, there is a significant risk that Syria will begin to see the Kurds as a threat to the country. However, the Arab-Kurdish forces were an essential element in putting an end to the Daesh caliphate. Türkiye is seeking to position itself as Syria's savior by pursuing its own interests and imposing its ideas on a sovereign country. Syria's future must remain in Syrian hands.

1 The Syrian Democratic Forces are a military coalition made up of Kurds and Arab and Christian tribes.
2 Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê: Kurdistan Workers' Party, recognized mainly as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union.
3 Partiya Yekîtiya Demokrat: Syrian Kurdish socialist-democratic party founded in 2003.


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