Turkey vows military operation unless YPG leaves Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan stated that a military operation in Syria would be conducted if YPG leaders do not leave Syria and their cadres fail to disarm. Trump, when asked whether he would withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, responded that "it’s a situation related to Turkey."

Wednesday January 08 2025 12:36 am

Duvar English & Reuters

Turkey will carry out a cross-border offensive into northeastern Syria against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia if the group does not meet Ankara's demands, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Jan. 6, while adding that Syria's new rulers must address the issue.

Turkey considers the YPG, which spearheads the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist group linked to Kurdish militants waging a decades-old insurgency against the Turkish state.

While repeatedly asking its NATO ally Washington to halt its support for the group, Ankara has carried out several incursions against the YPG in the past and controls swathes of territory in northern Syria.

Since the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last month by rebels, some of whom Turkey has supported, Ankara has demanded that the YPG disband, its non-Syrian militants and foreign terrorist fighters leave Syria or are repatriated to their source countries, and its leaders turn themselves in.

Speaking to broadcaster CNN Turk, Fidan said Turkey believed the new Syrian administration must address the issue of the YPG's presence, but added this may take time as a transition period is underway in Damascus.

Asked what Turkey would do if Damascus was unable to address the issue, Fidan said "whatever is necessary". When asked what that entailed, he said "a military operation", while adding that the new Syrian leadership had the power to battle the YPG on its own as well.

The SDF played a key role in defeating Islamic State militants in 2014-2017. The group still guards Islamic State fighters in prison camps there, but has been on the back foot since Assad's fall.

Turkey has said that the new Syrian leadership has conveyed its proposal to take over the management of those camp prisons.

Fidan, who was the first foreign minister to visit Damascus since Assad's fall last month, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had ordered that Turkish soldiers take over the management of the camp prisons if the new Syrian leadership is unable to do so.

Trump says future of US military presence in Syria related to Turkey

Speaking at a press conference at, Trump addressed international affairs and shared his perspective on developments in Syria.

Trump emphasized his avoidance of wars during his previous presidency and noted that he "defeated ISIS in Syria" and withdrew a significant portion of U.S. troops from the country during his first term.

When asked whether he would withdraw the roughly 2,000 American soldiers still in Syria, Trump replied, "I won’t disclose that because it’s part of a military strategy. However, I can say this—this is closely related to Turkey."

Trump reiterated his regard for Erdoğan, saying, "President Erdoğan is my friend and someone I respect. I believe he respects me as well."