DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Turkey's AK Party welcomes SDF dissolution, eyes stronger Syrian alliance

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Turkey's ruling AK Party welcomed the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a step toward strengthening Syrian unity.
  • The SDF's dissolution and integration into Syria's armed forces follows peace efforts between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
  • Turkey has previously conducted military operations against the SDF in northern Syria and maintains troops there, stating they will withdraw only when security threats are eliminated.

Ankara has welcomed the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), viewing it as a significant stride toward bolstering Syrian unity. Omer Celik, a spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, stated on X that an "important threshold was passed" with the SDF's disbandment and integration into Syria's armed forces under an agreement with Damascus.

This development aligns with Turkey's broader peace efforts concerning the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara considers linked to the SDF. The PKK announced its intention to disarm and disband in May 2025, following a call from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey has consistently advocated for the SDF's dissolution as part of this process.

Despite this apparent alignment, Turkey maintains a significant military presence in northern Syria, having previously conducted cross-border operations against the SDF. Ankara asserts that its troops will only withdraw once the security threats it perceives are neutralized. The government frames its peace process with the PKK as integral to creating a "terror-free Turkey" and a "terror-free region."

An important threshold was passed in terms of strengthening Syria's internal unity with the dissolution of the SDF.

— Omer CelikAK Party spokesman Omer Celik commented on the dissolution of the SDF on X.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog