Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on foreign nations to withdraw all support for Kurdish YPG forces in Syria, arguing that the group—backed by the US—is no longer justified following the fall of Bashar al‑Assad.

According to Al Jazeera, Erdoğan compared the YPG to ISIL, declaring that “neither group has a future in Syria,” and emphasized Turkey’s expectation that foreign allies cease backing the militia “in the upcoming period”. He reinforced this stance on a flight from an Egyptian summit, where his office released remarks making clear there was no reason for external support.

Reuters added that Erdoğan urged the removal of support from Kurdish fighters as Turkey labels the YPG an extension of the PKK—classified as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, and the EU—and said both IS and the PKK-YPG hold “no place in Syria’s future”. He welcomed the toppling of Assad as an opportunity for Kurdish disarmament and a future Syria in which all ethnic and religious groups coexist peacefully.

Turkish-led operations, notably Operation Dawn of Freedom launched on November 30, have targeted YPG/SDF positions in northern Syria—culminating in the capture of Manbij on December 9. Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to eliminating what he term the “terrorist organisation” as part of securing Syria’s future.

While the US still maintains approximately 900–2,000 troops alongside Syrian Democratic Forces in the region—credited with fighting IS—Ankara insists that foreign military support for Kurdish units is incompatible with a stable post‑Assad Syria

By Staff Writer, Courtesy of Forbes | December 20, 2024 | Edited for WTFwire.com
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters