2,000 PKK Fighters Join YPG Ranks Amidst Turkey’s Peace Initiative

State security sources reveal that 2,000 PKK members who withdrew from Turkey have joined the US-backed YPG in Syria. This transfer complicates Ankara’s “A Peaceful Turkey” initiative, which demands the disarmament of all related groups. A US Envoy also commented on cooperation between Turkey and Israel.

Turkish Security Services Detect Massive PKK Shift to Syria

As the Turkish Parliament’s commission continues its work on the “A Peaceful Turkey” process (known to the pro-Kurdish DEM Party as the “Peace and Democratic Society Process”), a key complication has emerged regarding the fate of withdrawing militants.

Turkish state authorities have reportedly determined that approximately 2,000 members of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), who announced their complete withdrawal from Turkey as part of the initial Imrali Process, have since the beginning of the year joined the ranks of the YPG/SDF in Syria.

The YPG (People’s Protection Units) forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), estimated to number between 80,000 and 90,000 and heavily equipped by the United States. The disarmament of the YPG is a critical demand often voiced by the ruling government and its ally, the MHP, as part of the current peace initiative.

Ankara Objects to Integration with Syrian Army

The Turkish daily Türkiye reported, citing security sources, that the 2,000 PKK members detected crossing into Syria have joined the SDF.

Ankara views developments in Syria as directly affecting the process within Turkey. Security sources indicate that Turkey is closely monitoring the process of the SDF’s integration with the Syrian (Damascus) government’s forces and is expecting the complete dissolution (tasfiye) of the SDF, not just the withdrawal of the PKK.

Turkey is reportedly objecting to these individuals joining Damascus’s new army, as it believes this directly undermines the goal of establishing a ‘Terror-Free Turkey.’ The parliamentary commission is expected to convene again next week, with the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) set to brief members on the latest developments.

[EXPLAINER] Why Turkey and Israel Are at Odds Over Syria

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The regional dynamics in Syria are not only complicated by the PKK/YPG presence but also by the divergent interests of major regional players, including Turkey and Israel.

While Turkey views the YPG/SDF as an existential terrorist threat directly linked to the PKK and operates military forces inside Syria to counter them, Israel’s primary security concerns in the region focus on the presence of Iran-backed groups (such as Hezbollah) and the potential for a direct conflict with Iran on its northern border.

Although both nations are concerned about regional stability, their specific priorities often clash: Israel’s occasional air strikes target Iranian assets and weapons transfers throughout Syria, which sometimes affects groups or areas relevant to Turkey’s concerns. Despite their historical rivalry and current tensions over issues like Gaza, the US and other international actors often try to find common ground, particularly regarding counter-terrorism and long-term stability—a path that US special envoys believe is still possible.

US Envoy Tom Barrack Predicts Turkey-Israel Cooperation, Praises Erdoğan

Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies forum in Manama, Bahrain, US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, offered a striking assessment of the region, asserting that war between two key regional powers is unlikely.

“Turkey and Israel Will Not Go to War”

Ambassador Barrack stated that a war between Israel and Turkey “is not going to happen.” He added:

“I think you will see cooperation from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. President Trump changed the whole chessboard everywhere.”

Barrack also credited Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with playing a crucial role in securing the recent ceasefire in Gaza, saying that the ceasefire could not have been achieved without Turkey.

“President Trump thanked President Erdoğan four times regarding the Gaza ceasefire… Especially Turkey’s relationship with Hamas, not designating them as a terrorist organization, enabled them to come all the way for a ceasefire.”

Barrack concluded his remarks on the broader regional context with a historical assessment:

“Everything the West has done since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire has been a mistake. The colonial attitude towards communities, flags, and religions has never worked. All these models have collapsed.”

Regarding the ongoing negotiations between the Damascus regime and the SDF forces in Syria, Barrack expressed optimism, stating, “We are very close to finding a common ground” with the SDF.