Turkiye threatens military action against Kurdish forces in Syria

Foreign Minister Fidan threatens military action against PKK-linked YPG group if they fail to meet Ankara’s demands.

Turkiye has threatened to launch a military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria unless they accept Ankara’s conditions for a “bloodless” transition following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad last month.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Turk television late on Tuesday that “we will do what’s necessary” if the People’s Protection Units (YPG) fail to meet Ankara’s demands. Turkiye is seeking to make itself a key player as its southern neighbour stabilises.

Fidan said “a military operation” could be on the cards, although he added that the new Syrian leadership, for which Turkiye has voiced support, has the power to battle the YPG on its own.

Al-Assad’s overthrow by opposition rebel forces last month raised the prospect of Turkiye intervening directly against Kurdish forces in Syria, which are accused by Ankara of links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The PKK has been battling the Turkish government for decades. Turkiye, as well as the United States and the European Union, has long considered it a “terrorist organisation”. The conflict is estimated to have killed more than 40,000 people.