By Onur Sinan Güzaltan
UWI author political scientist Onur Sinan Güzaltan was guest to Russia Today France. Güzaltan answered the question on the recent developments in Syria.
Mr. Güzaltan, good evening. Currently, there are numerous forces present in Syria. I would like to begin directly by discussing their relations with Türkiye. According to the Washington Post, the conflict between Turkish forces and the Kurds in Syria could potentially escalate into a civil war. Do you agree with this?
In the beginning, it should be noted that the primary winners of the fall of Bashar al-Assad are firstly Israel, and secondly the PKK/PYD. For a long time, the Turkish army has conducted operations against this terrorist group, which threatens the territorial integrity and national unity of Türkiye. It is both natural and likely that the Turkish army will continue these operations.
Currently, the pro-Turkish formations in Syria already seem to be part of the transitional coalition. How far do you think US support for the Kurdish forces in Syria will go during this transitional period? Could this lead to a declaration of independence?
I believe the goal of the groups that triggered Bashar al-Assad’s fall is to completely destabilize Syria. On one side, this opens the door for Israel in the ground, on the other it paves the way for the long-term plan of the US is to establish the “Second Israel” called “Kurdistan” in the middle of the region to create a lasting division between Türkiye, Iran, Iraq and Syria. This is why the US and Israel have supported and continue to support the PKK/PYD terrorist organization in the region.
Israel has made advances in the Golan Heights. What do you think about the potential for an attack on Iran, especially with Trump assuming the presidency?
Israel has launched an attack aimed at destroying the Syrian state’s infrastructure. Israel’s attack, combined with simultaneous attacks from terrorist organizations in Syria, aims to permanently cripple the Syrian state in the first place. Secondly it aims at establishing the “Second Israel” starting from Syrian territory. And thirdly, without doubt, the aim is to weaken and then take down Iran. This new structure in Syria poses a threat both to Iran and Türkiye. Therefore, the two major losers from the recent developments in Syria are Türkiye and Iran.
What kind of future awaits Syria? One of the most discussed scenarios is the “Democratic Syrian Republic,” which would involve a coalition government where the different ethnic and religious groups currently active in Syria would have a share in governance. Do you think this is possible?
I do not believe this is possible. The forces that orchestrated Assad’s removal did so with the intention of creating destabilization in Syria. Stabilization in Syria can only be achieved through cooperation between Türkiye and Iran on the ground. This could alter the course of events. We can see how the Astana process remaining inconclusive have eased the way for Israel and the US. Therefore, I believe Iran and Türkiye should collaborate, with Russia supporting them.
If Iran continues to support the forces at work with Türkiye, do you think Syria therefore will remain as a variant of Islamic republic or the main player will remain to be HTS finally?
I believe HTS is a pawn of Israel, the US, and is controlled by the CIA, Mossad and MI6.
The US claims that HTS has been linked to pro-Turkish forces since the beginning. What is your response to this?
No. The Turkish government spokesperson denied any connection between HTS and Türkiye. There is clarity in how both Iran and Türkiye view this matter. As I mentioned earlier, these two countries must cooperate; otherwise, the developments could lead to a complete collapse of the region. Currently, there is an environment in Syria that fosters conflict between Alawites and Sunnis, which is dangerous.