Türkiye has urged the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to renounce terrorism and abandon what it described as separatist ambitions that threaten Syria’s unity, while signaling it is prepared to support the Syrian army in Aleppo should Damascus request assistance.
The call comes as fighting continues between Syrian government forces and the SDF in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts of Aleppo, where the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) form the core of the SDF.
Speaking in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the group must “abandon terrorism and give up efforts aimed at dividing Syria,” stressing that the region is in urgent need of peace and stability.
At a joint press conference with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi following talks on Thursday, Fidan said the SDF’s determination to hold on to its positions “at any cost” has become the single greatest obstacle to restoring stability in Syria. He argued that this rigid stance is detached from the political realities of Syria and the wider region, adding that the time has come for national unity.
Fidan also accused the SDF of aligning itself with Israel, warning that it risked becoming an instrument of Israel’s “divide and rule” strategy in the region. “Instead of contributing to unity, the SDF has chosen a path that undermines regional stability,” he stated.
Separately, a Turkish Defense Ministry official said Türkiye stands ready to assist the Syrian government in its counterterrorism efforts in Aleppo if formally requested. Speaking during the ministry’s weekly briefing, the official said the current operation is being carried out solely by the Syrian army but emphasized that Ankara would provide support if asked, in line with its commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and unity.
The official added that Ankara is closely monitoring developments across Syria, noting that security in Syria directly affects Türkiye’s own national security. He remarked that the Aleppo operation was launched to restore public order following alleged SDF attacks on civilians and security personnel that resulted in casualties.
Political Divisions
The pro-Kurdish Democracy and Equality of Peoples Party (DEM) called on Türkiye to play a constructive role by encouraging dialogue, democratic integration, and coexistence among Syria’s diverse communities. Party spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan accused Ankara of indirectly fueling the fighting through allied armed factions operating in the area.
By contrast, opposition Victory Party leader Ümit Özdağ warned that the March 10 agreement amounted to a “political trap” for Türkiye, arguing that integrating the SDF into state institutions would legitimize the group, expand Israeli influence in Syria, and risk plunging the country back into civil war.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Kurdish Union urged Ankara to support Kurdish communities alongside Turkmen, saying attacks on Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo were aimed at sabotaging dialogue and a political settlement.
