By Adem Kılıç, Political Scientist
Over a year has passed since the chaotic environment of the Syrian civil war, which lasted more than a decade, and the collapse of the Assad regime.
Throughout this process, Türkiye has stood firm against both Assad’s massacres and the policies of Russia, a supporter of Assad, as well as the policies of the US, which has maintained its military presence in Syria under the guise of fighting ISIS and has attempted to legitimize the terrorist organizations there by referring to them as ‘our ground forces’.
Following the collapse of the Assad regime last year, Türkiye was described by all actors in Syria, including US President Trump, as the ‘main winner in Syria’.
Despite these assessments, Türkiye’s policy over the past year has made it clear that it has no territorial claims in Syria and that its primary concerns are its own security and Syria’s territorial integrity.
However, the US, seeking to protect the so-called legitimacy of the terrorist organization SDG (PKK/YPG), which gained ground in the region with its support, attempted to implement a process that again disregarded Türkiye’s sensitivities through a “consensus” or “reconciliation” text last March.
Türkiye, on the other hand, with its usual diplomatic approach, including the Astana process, allowed the process to continue with diplomatic patience until the end of December.
In other words, although this process appeared to be a “state-organization” rapprochement, in the context of deep geopolitical and ideological fault lines, it was Türkiye’s last step to tolerate other actors.
However, it seems that since March, this US-backed terrorist organization, unable or unwilling to understand Türkiye’s determination, has been under the impression that it could prolong the process with Israel’s support.
At this point, for Türkiye, a new cross-border operation is no longer a choice but a geopolitical necessity, in line with its determination to guarantee border security and prevent a terrorist corridor in the region. Why can’t a lasting settlement be established?
From day one, the Sharaa administration has stated and continues to state its principle of absolutely preserving Syria’s unitary and centralized structure.
Despite the March agreement, the terrorist organization SDG continues to pursue its goal of establishing an autonomous, decentralized, federal or confederal administrative structure in north-eastern Syria.
The difference between these two visions involves irreconcilable differences regarding Syria’s form of government.
Despite the parties signing the March 2025 agreement, the failure to disband the armed elements belonging to the terrorist organization SDG and the complete handover of those areas to the Syrian administration once again exposes the hypocrisy of the terrorist organization.
Türkiye’s determination not to allow the formation of a terrorist state on its southern borders is a red line for national security, and Türkiye has always made this clear.
Even in the most critical times, when all actors such as the US, Russia and Iran were active in Syria, Türkiye’s Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring and Claw Lock operations demonstrated that the country would not allow this theater to continue.
At this point, Türkiye will now put an end to this theater without giving the terrorist organization SDG any more time and without allowing terrorism to become institutionalized.
For it is clear that an agreement between the SDG, which first flew the US flag, then the Russian flag, then the Israeli flag, and now the US flag again, and the Syrian Arab Republic will not bring lasting peace.
The time has come for this organization, which is the mine donkey of the ‘great powers’, to be buried militarily, and as a matter of legitimate self-defense, Türkiye’s operation by January at the latest is now an inevitable step.