Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has issued an ultimatum to Syrian Kurdish armed groups, urging them to abandon hopes of cooperating with Israel against Damascus and to honor their agreement to integrate with the central government.
Fidan warned that Ankara is not naive and is fully aware of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) activities. He accused the SDF of seeking Israeli assistance to maintain control over Arab-majority areas by force and to preserve its ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The warning comes as tensions between Turkey, Israel, and Syria remain high. The Syrian government has been critical of a recent conference held by the SDF in Hasakah, where representatives of various ethnic and religious minority groups called for autonomy.
In March, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a memorandum with SDF commander Mazlum Abdi, agreeing to integrate with Damascus. However, the SDF has since shifted its stance and begun demanding autonomy and a decentralized system of governance.
Fidan said that Ankara’s patience is wearing thin as the SDF fails to take concrete steps to address Turkish security concerns. He warned that Turkey may take other measures, possibly including military action, if the situation does not improve.
Turkey and the US have given the SDF a 30-day deadline to accelerate the process of joining Damascus. The deadline is set to expire within days. Meanwhile, intermittent clashes have broken out between the Syrian army and the SDF in Deir Hafir and around the Tishrin Dam, with both sides trading blame for the escalation.
The situation remains volatile, with tensions between Turkey, Israel, and Syria at a high point. The SDF’s demand for autonomy and its ties to Israel have raised concerns among regional powers, which may lead to further escalations in the coming days.
Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-warns-syrian-kurds-dont-become-israeli-pawns-0