Turkey Signals Readiness to Support Syria After Deadly Aleppo Clashes
rte el şara
Turkey said on Thursday it stands ready to assist Syria if requested, following deadly clashes in Aleppo between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters that have killed at least four people and displaced thousands of civilians.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry said the fighting was the result of a “counter-terrorism operation carried out entirely by the Syrian army,” stressing that Ankara had no direct role in the operation. The statement came amid reports that the United States is mediating efforts to de-escalate the violence in the northern Syrian city.
Ankara remains the strongest foreign backer of Syria’s interim administration in Damascus and maintains a significant military presence across northern Syria.
“If Syria requests assistance, Turkey will provide the necessary support,” the Defense Ministry said during a briefing.
The renewed violence highlights a deepening stalemate between Damascus and Kurdish authorities who continue to resist full integration into the central government. Turkey regards the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their core component, the YPG, as terrorist organizations linked to the PKK and has repeatedly warned that it could launch a military operation if integration efforts fail.
“We are following developments in Syria hour by hour. It is an extremely fragile environment,” said Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, adding that Turkey was ready to provide “all kinds of support” to restore stability in Aleppo.
Fidan: YPG Actions Undermine Syria’s Stability
Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the clashes in Aleppo revealed the “real intentions” of the U.S.-backed YPG.
“The YPG’s insistence on autonomy is an obstacle to Syria’s stability,” Fidan said. “They must abandon terrorism and separatist activities and contribute to Syria’s unity.”
Fidan accused the group of acting as a proxy for Israel, saying its actions coincided with what he described as Israel’s expanding military footprint in Syria.
“They have become an actor used by Israel as part of a divide-and-rule policy,” Fidan said. “They coordinate with Israel.”
He argued that the current escalation could have been avoided had the YPG complied with prior agreements to integrate into Syria’s national structures.
“If they had implemented integration instead of buying time, none of this would have happened,” he said.
Regional and Global Dimensions
Fidan said Turkey views the developments in Syria within a broader regional context that includes conflicts in Yemen, Sudan and Somaliland, warning that instability in one area risks spilling across borders.
“Our region needs peace more than ever,” he said. “Türkiye will continue to stand for dialogue, diplomacy and justice.”
He added that normalization in Aleppo was in the interest of all communities, including Kurds and Yazidis, and reiterated that under previous arrangements with Damascus, YPG forces were expected to withdraw from Kurdish neighborhoods, remove heavy weapons and allow Syrian government institutions to operate.
“No sovereign state would accept the creation of a parallel authority in Aleppo,” Fidan said.
Israel, U.S. and Intelligence Cooperation
Fidan confirmed that Turkish officials have been in contact with counterparts in Syria and the United States over the past two days and expressed hope that the situation could be resolved “without further bloodshed.”
The clashes come as Israel and Syria, under U.S. pressure, recently agreed to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism — an unprecedented step between two longtime adversaries. Following talks in Paris, the two sides agreed to create a U.S.-supervised communication channel aimed at reducing tensions.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday that Syria’s “Kurdish minority” was under attack and warned that violence could intensify if the international community remains silent.
“The West owes a debt of honor to the Kurds who fought Daesh,” Saar said, referring to the U.S.-led coalition’s partnership with Kurdish forces against Islamic State.
Turkey rejects that framing, arguing that the YPG exploits Kurdish identity while pursuing a separatist agenda tied to the PKK.
Turkey Warns of Wider Consequences
Fidan also criticized what he described as Israel’s expanding military operations in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, including repeated airstrikes and incursions near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
“We hope the talks among Syria, the U.S. and Israel will support Syria’s territorial integrity and regional stability,” he said. “Divide-and-conquer policies serve no one’s interests.”
As fighting continues intermittently in Aleppo, Turkey has signaled it will remain actively engaged diplomatically — and potentially militarily — as Syria’s fragile post-war order faces renewed strain.
