ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s foreign minister said Friday that Ankara is closely monitoring an agreement between the Syrian government and a US-backed Kurdish-led armed group, expressing concern over potential future provocations and plots that could threaten Turkiye’s security.
Hakan Fidan, speaking in an interview with the Turkish TV100 channel, said Turkiye had relayed its concerns to Syrian officials in a sudden visit to Syria on Thursday.
“If there is an agreement signed with good intentions, let it be done, but there may be some problems or mines planted for the future,” he said. “We as Turkiye are monitoring these very closely.”
The agreement to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, into the Syrian government followed fierce clashes that erupted last week between government security forces and gunmen loyal to ousted leader Bashar Assad.
Fidan said Turkiye does not see the deal as granting autonomy to the SDF. “No one should feel like a minority but should feel like they are a special part of a greater prosperity by benefiting from equal opportunities,” he said.
The SDF is a US-backed Kurdish military alliance in northeastern Syria that has a presence in most of the territory in that part of the country.
Turkiye designates the SDF and its military arm, the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, as terrorist organizations because of their links to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party.
Addressing a question on whether the YPG and SDF could be integrated into the Syrian army without laying down arms, Fidan said the issue had been discussed with the new Syrian leaders, including interim leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa. He said Turkiye’s top intelligence officials were also present and that Turkiye would remain vigilant in assessing any progress on the issue.
Fidan said Al-Sharaa assured him that the articles in the deal would call for the YPG to be fully integrated into the Syrian army.
Al-Sharaa “actually said that the current articles (are aligned with Turkish interests).” ... The agreement made will completely include the YPG in the army.”
“Essentially, what we have been saying from the very beginning is this: The new Syrian administration must take the initiative to end the YPG occupation and piracy,” Fidan said, referring to the continued presence of the group in the area.
Fidan added that Turkiye would keep a close watch on developments, stressing that “life should return to normal” for all communities in Syria, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, Christians and Alawites.
Turkiye says it will closely monitor a Syrian government deal with a Kurdish armed group
https://arab.news/g4hsb
Turkiye says it will closely monitor a Syrian government deal with a Kurdish armed group
- Turkish FM says deal integrating the Kurdish-led SDF into Syria's armed forces looks fine
- But Ankara will watch for potential future provocations that could threaten Turkiye's stability
Israel orders removal of electricity network, destroys Palestinian houses in West Bank
- The notice demonstrates Israel’s continued efforts to tighten its control over the residents of Idhna, the mayor said
- Israeli forces demolished two homes belonging to the Qabha family in the Khor Al-Dabaa neighborhood of Bartaa in Jenin
LONDON: Israeli authorities informed Palestinian residents of Idhna village, located west of Hebron, about a plan to remove the electricity network in the area as the Israeli government intends to strengthen control in the occupied West Bank.
Jaber Tmaizi, the mayor of Idhna, said that Israeli troops issued a notice demanding the removal of an electricity network that supplies Bir Al-Balouta area, located west of the town.
He added that this notice demonstrates Israel’s continued efforts to tighten its control over the residents of Idhna, aiming to displace them closer to the separation wall to expand the Adora settlement nearby.
On Tuesday, the Energy Minister Eli Cohen said that recent measures adopted by the government that deepen Israeli control in the occupied West Bank amounted to implementing “de facto sovereignty.”
Cohen said that steps “actually establish a fact on the ground that there will not be a Palestinian state.”
Palestinians, Arab countries, and human rights groups have described the moves announced on Sunday as an annexation of the territory, which is home to approximately 3.4 million Palestinians who aspire to use it for a future state.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces demolished two homes belonging to the Qabha family in the Khor Al-Dabaa neighborhood of Bartaa, which is located in Jenin in the northern West Bank. The demolition was carried out under the pretext that the houses were built without the necessary construction permits.
Earlier this year, Israeli forces also demolished four homes in Bartaa, again citing the absence of permits as the reason for the demolitions.
