Mon Jan 06 22:19:21 IST 2025: ## Turkey Declares Imminent Elimination of Syrian Kurdish Groups, Warns West Against Support

**Ankara, Turkey** – Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan declared on Monday that the elimination of Kurdish-led armed groups in Syria, particularly the People’s Protection Units (YPG), is imminent. He issued a stern warning to Western nations to cease all support for these groups, which Ankara considers terrorist organizations linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Fidan stated that “it’s only a matter of time before PKK/YPG is eliminated,” asserting that the changing political landscape in Syria, following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebels, makes their demise inevitable. He cautioned against any Western attempts to utilize the situation to bolster the YPG under the guise of combating ISIL (ISIS).

Turkey’s long-standing frustration with US support for the YPG, a key component of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is well-known. The SDF played a crucial role in the fight against ISIL, and currently controls detention facilities holding captured ISIL fighters. However, Turkey views the continued presence of the YPG as a significant threat.

Fidan’s comments follow similar statements made by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also predicted the imminent end of the YPG, highlighting the new Syrian administration’s determination to maintain territorial integrity. Concerns remain, however, that the power vacuum left by Assad’s fall could allow ISIL to regroup and regain strength. Fidan emphasized the need for international cooperation to prevent such an outcome, stressing that ISIL poses a major threat to regional stability. He met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss collaborative strategies against ISIL. The new Syrian leadership, under HTS, has reportedly indicated its intention to integrate Kurdish forces into the national army.

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