The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, announced its willingness to withdraw from northeastern Syria under specific conditions. According to a PKK official speaking from the group’s northern Iraq political office on Thursday, the withdrawal is contingent on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) maintaining significant leadership in the region’s governance.
“Any initiative resulting in the governance of northeastern Syria under the control of the SDF, or in which they have a significant role in joint leadership, will lead us to agree to leave the region,” the official stated.
Ankara has increased threats against the YPG, a major component of the SDF, alleging its affiliation with the PKK. Turkey has accused the PKK of leading a four-decade separatist insurgency against its government.
Meanwhile, the SDF, backed by the United States, has reiterated its strategic importance in stabilizing northeastern Syria. SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi has assured that PKK members would withdraw if Turkey agrees to a ceasefire. However, the situation remains precarious as Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) militias intensify their campaign against Kurdish forces in the region.
Clashes between the SDF and SNA forces, particularly along the Euphrates River, have escalated in recent weeks. The SNA, supported by Turkish air and drone strikes, aims to capture key infrastructure, including the strategic Tishrin Dam and the Qaraquzaq bridge, which provide access to the Kurdish heartland in northeastern Syria.
In response, the SDF has utilized domestically developed first-person view (FPV) drones to disrupt SNA advances. Footage shared by the SDF shows the drones targeting SNA armored vehicles and personnel, forcing retreat in some instances. Though less sophisticated than Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 drones, these FPV drones play a significant role in countering the well-resourced Turkish-backed offensive.
وحدات الشهيد هارون تواصل اصطياد مدرعات ودبابات المرتزقة وتدمر دبابة ومدرعتين قدمها الاحتلال التركي للمرتزقة في ريف #منبج الشرقي
15-01-2025
Martyr Haroun Units continue hunting mercenary’s armored vehicles and tanks, destroying a tank and two armored vehicles provided by the… pic.twitter.com/GlreZhzyiH— Farhad Shami (@farhad_shami) January 15, 2025
Wild 🚨
U.S.-backed SDF forces are using drones to target Turkish backed Syrian rebels and their pickup trucks, leaving them completely destroyed. pic.twitter.com/klfH80T4LS
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 9, 2024
The SDF has also demonstrated an ability to counter Turkish drones, reportedly downing a Bayraktar TB2 and a larger Aksungur UAV in recent engagements.
A video showing what U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claim is the shoot-down of a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone after it carried out three airstrikes on SDF forces. pic.twitter.com/Aqzj038PU8
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 18, 2024
On another nearby front, the SDF has continued to launch raids against SNA positions in recently captured Manbij, while showing off a blend of U.S. and Soviet-era weaponry. In a recent post by armament tracker War_Noir, SDF fighters were observed wielding U.S.-origin M4A1 carbines equipped with EOTech holographic sights and magnifiers, alongside AK-74 rifles.
#Syria 🇸🇾: “Syrian Democratic Forces” (#SDF) raided a “Syrian National Army” (#SNA) position and killed SNA members on #Manbij Front in #Aleppo.
SDF members were seemingly armed with a #USA-origin 🇺🇸 M4A1 carbine with EOTech HHS (magnifier +red dot) and AK-74 rifles. pic.twitter.com/Y0vN4M8er5
— War Noir (@war_noir) January 17, 2025
Turkish drones have also targeted civilian convoys attempting to support the SDF. On multiple occasions, Turkish airstrikes have killed civilians traveling to protest the attacks on the Tishrin Dam, which the SDF warns could face catastrophic collapse due to sustained bombardment.
🚨🇹🇷 Non stop Turkish airstrikes on the Tishrin Dam, NE Syria. https://t.co/zDxmwWbcYN pic.twitter.com/jKLFMyVIhj
— Terror Alarm (@Terror_Alarm) January 16, 2025
Amid these developments, Marco Rubio, the nominee for U.S. Secretary of State in the Donald Trump administration, emphasized on Wednesday the critical importance of sustaining U.S. support for the SDF. Rubio outlined Washington’s interests in fostering a Syrian government that prevents the Islamic State (IS) from regaining a foothold, protects Kurdish communities, respects religious minorities, and curbs Iranian influence through its regional proxies.
“I think we also need to recognize that there are implications to abandoning partners who have made a great sacrifice,” Rubio stated, underlining the sacrifices made by Kurdish forces in the fight against IS.
