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Autonomous Administration Shows Readiness for Dialogue with Turkey.. Demands "Decentralization"
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Assad regime's collapse marks turning point in Syrian power balance, enhancing Turkish influence at expense of Iran and Russia
A senior official in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria expressed their desire to open dialogue channels with Turkey, stating Saturday that "the conflict in the north revealed Turkey's bad intentions," adding that "Syrian Democratic Forces will be the nucleus of the Syrian army," and continued: "We want a democratic, decentralized Syria".
In contrast, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed to the inevitability of destroying "terrorist" groups threatening Syria's stability, referring to "ISIS" and Kurdish fighters, telling reporters upon returning from the Cairo summit yesterday that "ISIS, PKK, and their affiliated groups threatening Syria's survival must be eliminated."
Fears are growing of a Turkish attack on the Kurdish-controlled border town of Kobani, located about 50 km northeast of Manbij in northern Syria, as Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare.
Violent battles erupted in recent days, since former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime collapse on December 8, 2024, between SDF and Turkey-loyal "Syrian National Army" factions in Manbij, around Tishrin Dam, and Qarah Qawzaq Bridge in Aleppo governorate.
Northern Syria witnessed three large-scale operations between 2016 and 2019, carried out by NATO member Turkey, targeting both "ISIS" and Kurdish People's Protection Units, according to AFP.
Since those operations, Ankara has deployed soldiers in these areas, now numbering between 16,000 and 18,000 personnel, according to ruling Justice and Development Party spokesman Omar Celik on Tuesday.
The Syrian scene witnessed dramatic shifts in recent days, with Assad's regime falling, and armed factions advancing toward Damascus after controlling most major Syrian cities, some allied with Turkey.
This strengthened Ankara's position in the Syrian equation, amid declining Iranian and Russian influence, pushing it to demand new authorities in Damascus finally end the "Kurdish forces" file before moving, hinting at an imminent attack.
Levant-Agencies
