Wed Dec 25 16:09:55 UTC 2024: ## Erdogan Issues Ultimatum to Kurdish YPG Militia: Disband or Face Annihilation
**Ankara, Turkey** – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a stark warning to the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria, demanding they disarm or face destruction. This follows the recent ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8th and escalating tensions in the region.
Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday, Erdogan declared that the YPG, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization and an extension of the outlawed PKK, will be eradicated. He stated, “The separatist murderers will either bid farewell to their weapons, or they will be buried in Syrian lands along with their weapons.”
Turkey’s Defence Ministry reported killing 21 YPG-PKK fighters in northern Syria and Iraq. While SDF commander Mazloum Abdi acknowledged the presence of PKK fighters in Syria, he denied organizational links and suggested their return home contingent on a ceasefire with Turkey.
Ankara has repeatedly pressed the US, a NATO ally, to cease support for the YPG, a key component of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This stance is consistent with Turkey’s long-held position, according to Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu.
Erdogan’s announcement coincides with Turkey’s plans to open a consulate in Aleppo and anticipates increased border traffic next summer as Syrian refugees begin returning home. The situation remains highly volatile, with the future of the YPG and the overall stability of northern Syria uncertain.
First Piper 