Turkey says Syria using force is an option against US-backed fighters who helped defeat ISIS

Tensions betwixt Syria’s transitional authorities and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) escalated this week aft Turkey warned that Damascus could edifice to subject unit against the group, pursuing days of deadly clashes successful and astir Aleppo. The SDF played a captious relation successful aiding U.S. forces to decision the Islamic State successful Syria.

Turkey’s overseas minister, Hakan Fidan, said Thursday that Syria’s usage of unit against the SDF seems an option, adding that portion helium hoped the situation could beryllium resolved done dialogue, according to Reuters.

The remarks came aft respective days of warring betwixt Syrian authorities forces and Kurdish fighters that displaced tens of thousands of civilians and near astatine slightest 23 radical dead, Reuters reported.

The informing underscores mounting determination unit arsenic negotiations aimed astatine integrating the SDF into Syria’s nationalist service stay stalled astir a twelvemonth aft a U.S.-backed model statement was signed.

FROM SYRIA TO SOMALIA, US TROOPS REMAIN DEPLOYED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON UNDER MISSIONS THAT NEVER FORMALLY ENDED

Soldiers of the Syrian service successful the entranceway of Sheik Maksoud vicinity during continuing warring betwixt the Syrian forces and the SDF connected Jan. 10, 2026 successful Aleppo, Syria. A ceasefire announced yesterday did not instrumentality clasp arsenic warring continued betwixt the Syrian service and Kurdish fighters successful the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods of Aleppo. Overnight, the service announced that it had completed a information expanse of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood.  (Adri Salido/Getty Image)

The United States remains profoundly progressive successful efforts to forestall the confrontation from spiraling, with U.S. Central Command mediating regular connected the crushed successful Syria alongside partners including France, the U.K., Turkey and Jordan. "CENTCOM is connected the crushed wrong Syria playing an progressive mediating relation each azygous day," said Charles Lister, elder chap and manager of the Syria Initiative astatine the Middle East Institute.

"Fundamentally, the United States remains the SDF’s biggest and astir important backer, supporter, supplier of finance, grooming and to an grade defense," helium said.

Lister said Washington has already utilized important leverage, including compelling SDF person Mazloum Abdi to motion the March 2025 model agreement.

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U.S. forces supply subject grooming to members of the SDF successful the Qamisli territory successful the Al-Hasakah province, Syria connected Aug. 18, 2023.  (Photo by Hedil Amir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"We would not person had the March model statement had it not been for fundamentally General Mazloum being strong-armed onto a helicopter, flown to Damascus, and told that helium needed to motion that agreement," helium said.

In a connection released connected Wednesday, the SDF accused Syrian authorities forces and Turkey of what it described arsenic a "dangerous subject escalation" crossed eastbound Aleppo’s countryside, including Deir Hafer, Maskanah and the country surrounding the Tishreen Dam.

The SDF claimed Syrian authorities forces carried retired much than a twelve attacks utilizing artillery, mortars and termination drones and said civilian infrastructure, including a station bureau and a bakery, was struck.

The SDF besides said Turkish Bayraktar drones struck aggregate SDF positions adjacent Maskanah and Tabqah. Turkey and the Syrian authorities had not publically responded to the claims.

The situation stems from a failed March 2025 statement intended to merge SDF forces into Syria’s Ministry of Defense.

"There’s nary question that Damascus has been a pugnacious negotiator," Lister said. "Having said that, the authorities has besides bent significantly."

TRUMP DECLARES IMPORTANCE OF NOT DERAILING 'SYRIA'S EVOLUTION INTO A PROSPEROUS STATE'

Some 900 US troops are inactive stationed successful Syria.  (Delil Souleiman / AFP via Getty Images)

Lister claims the woody stalled due to the fact that of interior divisions wrong the SDF. "The information that nary woody has been implemented is rather frankly due to the fact that the SDF is not a united, cohesive movement," helium said. "There are elements wrong the SDF who perfectly bash not privation this woody to beryllium implemented."

He said immoderate factions are deliberately delaying implementation. "Their calculation is intelligibly that the longer that they tin stall, they anticipation that the Syrian transitional authorities volition bash thing to destruct its planetary credibility," Lister said. "It’s conscionable a stall-and-wait-and-see approach."

"That attack is intrinsically dangerous," helium said. "It lone guarantees conflict."

"Over the past 2 oregon 3 days, determination person been a fig of Turkish drone strikes connected SDF subject bases successful this frontline territory successful eastbound agrarian Aleppo," Lister said.

"Turkey is primed to get backmost involved," helium said. "When Turkey has gone each retired connected the SDF, the SDF haven’t stood a chance."

According to Lister, lone unit from the highest level could change the trajectory.

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People holding Kurdish flags show against the law declaration that was drafted by experts and signed by Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa connected Thursday, successful Qamishli, Syria March 14, 2025. (Orhan Qereman/Reuters)

"The lone happening that’s going to alteration the equation present is if President Trump makes it publically wide that this woody has to beryllium made and implemented expeditiously," helium said.

"This is not contained," Lister warned. "All the preparations are intelligibly being made for this to go an progressive subject portion unless superior diplomacy pulls some sides disconnected the brink."

Reuters contributed to this report.