The map in Syria has changed. The PKK/SDF, backed by the US for decades, has been forced to pull out of key strategic positions it has been controlling in northern Syria following a military operation launched by the Damascus government. Control over oil fields, border areas, and fertile agricultural land has now shifted to Damascus. So what happened? Why did ...
Syria experienced days of intense fighting that ended on Tuesday with a preliminary agreement, which could determine the country’s administrative future. It all began in two neighborhoods of the city of Aleppo. After the evacuation of the civilian population and clashes, the armed groups belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces had to retreat east of the Euphrates River. For Ünal ...
By Adem Kılıç, Political scientist Those clinging to the wings of US aircraft at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan, trying to ‘escape’, were not only a symbol of defeat, but also of the price of misplaced alliances. And today, the same scene has been re-enacted in Syria, specifically in Aleppo. The only thing that changed was the geography and the fact ...
The Syrian government joins the international coalition against ISIS. What concrete consequences will this decision have for the fight against Zionism? Experts from have from Türkiye have a critical assessment of the step. The decision was announced during the visit of Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa to Washington. Its focus is on legitimizing the new regime, says Ünal Atabay, former ...
In recent weeks, talks between Türkiye, Syria, and the US have accelerated. The developments and statements suggest that certain shared understandings have been reached. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Washington on 10 November and had “warm talks” with Trump. The Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan made a “surprise” visit to Washington and joined part of the al-Sharaa–Trump meeting. US Ambassador ...
Tom Barrack, US’s ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, made a statement that led a new wave of discussion in Turkish media and public opinion on Türkiye-Israel relations.Speaking on Saturday at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue, Barrack said:“Türkiye and Israel will not be at war with each other. In my opinion, it’s not going to ...
By Fikret Akfırat One of the two groups that do not comply with the new Syrian government’s decision to eliminate armed groups and form a central army are the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a “disguise” of the PKK/YPG. The second group is the Syrian National Army (SNA) supported by Türkiye. Türkiye, which has the largest military force in Syria, and ...
Editor’s note: The following article was published by UWI in 2022. One of it’s main figures, Michael Walts, is expected to be designated as the National Security Adviser of President-elect Donald Trump. Hence, UWI republishes the text, as it may serve to analyze the Trump Administration’s position vis-a-vis Syria, Türkiye and the PKK. During last 30 years, for Kurdish nationalists, ...
By Adem Kılıç, political scientist, Türkiye During Trump’s first term as the US President between 2017 and 2021, Türkiye and the US had disagreements on many issues. During Trump’s first term, relations between Türkiye and the US were marked by periodic problems, ranging from the crisis over Trump’s letter to President Erdoğan to the Pastor Brunson incident, from the Halkbank ...
By Mehmet Yuva Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with members of the Central Committee of the Syrian Ba’ath Party on January 16. Urgent issues of the country, as well as various current global topics, especially Palestine, were discussed in the meeting. A few days after the meeting, by presidential decree, Syria’s National Security Chief (former General Intelligence Director) Ali Mamlouk ...
By Nahed al Huseini / Damascus, Syria Turkish-Syrian rapprochement is continuing in a fast speed. It is expected that a bilateral foreign minister meeting will take place very soon under Russian mediation. Both sides have stated that struggle against terrorism and the dealing with the challenge of migration constitute important topics, as well as efforts of regional autonomy in the ...