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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday issued a firm warning to the PKK/YPG-linked terrorist group SDF, stating that its failure to implement the integration agreement with the Syrian government is “unacceptable.”
In a live television appearance, Fidan emphasized that armed groups prolonging their presence under pretexts was “unacceptable.” He added that Ankara expects the group to take “genuine and unconditional steps” toward reaching a final accord with the central government in Damascus.
“Armed formations should not continue to exist in this country under the guise of political negotiations,” Fidan said.
Fidan highlighted Türkiye’s support for a unified Syria and warned of regional actors seeking to exploit internal unrest, notably referencing Israel. “We have no hidden agenda. Our position is clear: no country should pose a threat to Syria, and Syria should not pose a threat to others,” he said.
Referring to the recent unrest in Sweida, the minister noted that while shifting headlines may distract some, “Türkiye’s focus remains unchanged.” He also cited Israeli obstruction in central authority intervention in minority-populated areas like Sweida.
Fidan praised recent remarks by U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, describing them as a “realistic call” for the group’s integration. He reaffirmed Türkiye’s view that any lasting peace requires the complete disarmament of the PKK/YPG-linked terrorist group SDF.
“We cannot afford to relive the past 40 years under the shadow of terrorism,” Fidan said. “There must be no armed threat left in Iraq, Syria, or anywhere around us.”
On the same day, the Syrian Foreign Ministry announced that no progress had been made on the March 10 agreement with the terrorist group.
Damascus accused the group of continuing to seize regional resources in Deir ez-Zor and called upcoming meetings in Paris with Western officials a “foreign effort to legitimize an illegitimate structure.”
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