Türkiye threatens military action against Kurdish forces in Syria news

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan threatened military action against the PKK-linked People’s Protection Units (YPG) if they failed to meet Ankara’s demands.

Türkiye has threatened to launch a military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria unless it accepts Ankara’s conditions for a “bloodless” transition after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad last month.

“We will do what is necessary” if an agreement is reached, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Turk late Tuesday evening. People’s Protection Units (YPG) Failure to respond to Ankara’s demands. Türkiye seeks to make itself a Major player With the stability of its southern neighbor.

Fidan said there could be a “military operation” although he added that the new Syrian leadership, for which Turkey has expressed support, has the capacity to fight the YPG on its own.

The Assad family Overthrown by opposition forces Last month, he raised the possibility of Türkiye intervening directly against Kurdish forces in Syria, which Ankara accuses of having links to the PKK.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party has been fighting the Turkish government for decades. Türkiye, as well as the United States and the European Union, have long considered it a “terrorist organization.” It is estimated that the conflict killed more than 40,000 people.

The YPG’s presence in Syria remains a key element of Türkiye’s security strategy, as the two groups are organically linked and committed to the same ethno-nationalist separatist tendency.

He added: “These international fighters who came from Turkey, Iran and Iraq must leave Syria immediately. We do not see any preparation nor any intention in this direction at the present time and we are waiting.” Fidan told CNN Turkish.

Turkish-backed factions in northern Syria resumed their armed conflict with Kurdish forces at the same time as the rebels launched their offensive on November 27 that ousted Assad after just 11 days.

“Give her some time”

Syria’s new interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham has long-standing ties with Turkey, told Al Arabiya on Sunday that Kurdish-led forces should be integrated into the national army.

Fidan, who met Sharaa in Damascus last month, said Ankara expects the new leadership to address the YPG issue, though he added that it was ready to “give it some time” as talks between Damascus and the YPG continue.

He added: “Terrorist fighters coming from international countries must leave Syria, and the leadership of the PKK must leave the country.” The remaining cadres should lay down their arms and join the new regime, for a bloodless and trouble-free transition.

When asked whether Turkey would continue to intervene in Syria despite US support for the YPG, Fidan said: “We have done that in the past in Afrin, Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad,” referring to sites in northern Syria controlled by Turkey. Targeted.

He said Türkiye would not hesitate to do so again. This is what our national security requires. We have no other choice.”