Erdogan states that Turkey will take action at the first sign of potential fragmentation in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a strong warning that his nation will take action if necessary to prevent any fragmentation of Syria, asserting that he will be “uncompromising” in this resolve.

Erdogan’s remarks are interpreted as a subtle warning directed at the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the United States, which provides support to the group in its fight against Islamic State militants.

“We cannot accept any scenario that leads to the division of Syria, and should we detect even the slightest threat, we will implement the required measures,” Erdogan stated after the first cabinet meeting of 2025.

He emphasized that Ankara possesses “ample power, capacity, and expertise to address this issue.”

Erdogan warned that Türkiye could “act unexpectedly one night” to thwart any potential division of its neighboring country. He reiterated that there is “no room for terrorism in the region’s future” and that those who resort to terror will be “overwhelmed by their own weapons.”

The president has consistently highlighted the perceived threat posed by the Kurdish group to Türkiye’s security and has committed to preventing the establishment of a “terror corridor” along its southern borders. Last month, he pledged to “eliminate” the Kurdish militants and urged NATO and the US to decide between supporting Türkiye or the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which operates near the Turkish and Iraqi borders alongside other Kurdish factions.

Ankara perceives the YPG as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and classifies both groups as terrorist organizations.

In light of the recent takeover of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadists in early December, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), primarily composed of YPG members, have urged for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria. They have also requested assistance from the United States to safeguard Syrian territory against Turkish incursions and to end what they consider Ankara’s occupation of northern Syria.

Despite these developments, approximately 100 individuals lost their lives in confrontations between YPG forces and pro-Türkiye groups over the weekend, as reported by AFP.

In the meantime, Türkiye has sought to strengthen its relationship with the new Syrian administration, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visiting Damascus last month and advocating for the removal of severe international sanctions that have impacted the country’s economy.