Kurdistan Workers' Party

Syrian government forces enter Afrin, signaling a change in control

Forces from Syria’s General Security Department entered the northwestern Syrian city of Afrin on February 6, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

Erdogan and Syria’s New President Al-Sharaa Meet in Ankara to Discuss Defense Pact

Turkey and Syria to Agree on a Defense Partnership: Syria’s new transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to discuss a joint...

Syria’s energy sector and its impact on stability and regional developments

Excerpt Syria has the potential to significantly increase its oil and natural gas production, which can provide energy and government revenue that are critical for its stability and reconstruction....

Turkey and HTS: A New Era of Extremism in Syria?

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2023, Syria is now controlled by an alliance of opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). While there has...

Trump can’t leave Syria to others

After the fall of Bashar Assad‘s regime in Syria, the incoming Trump administration faces a complex set of challenges. Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to reduce U.S....

Turkey’s Overreach in Syria: Erdogan Is ‘Playing with Fire’

In a recent Foreign Policy article, Steven Cook and I highlighted how Turkey may be overplaying its hand in Syria. With events evolving rapidly, it seems that Turkish President Recep...

Syria Is At A Crossroads. What’s At Stake Now?

Can the new government stabilize the country? Additionally, can Washington make sure it doesn’t miss an opportunity to leverage a decade of work with the Kurds and other partners?

‘Slip of the Tongue’: Turkey Denies Ceasefire Deal with Kurds, as Erdogan Teases Expansionism

Turkey Denies Ceasefire With U.S.-Backed Syrian Forces: Turkey’s Defense Ministry denied on December 19 that it had agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal with the Kurdish-led...

Who will form the core of Jolani’s unified army?

Ahmad al Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), commonly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al Jolani, has unveiled a vision for post-Assad Syria. With HTS assuming control in the aftermath...

US military strikes Islamic State camps and personnel in central Syria

On December 16, the US military launched a second round of strikes against Islamic State personnel and infrastructure in Syria since the fall of the regime of Bashir al Assad on December 8. US operations...

Expect Turkey To Be the Decisive Foreign Player in Post-Assad Syria

The ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other rebel groups have created an opening for Turkey to assert itself as the primary external...

‘Unfriendly Takeover’: Turkey Offers to Train New Syrian Army While Maintaining Threat Against Kurds

Turkey’s ‘Unfriendly Takeover’ in Syria: Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on December 15 that Turkey is willing to provide military training for Syria’s army if...

Turkey moves to isolate the Kurds in Syria, and prepares a way for new attacks

The main group in Ankara's cross-hairs is the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, which was formed in 2015 with US backing.

Assad’s Enemies Are Not Our Friends

The United States shouldn’t make allies out of terrorists.

US launches massive strikes on Islamic State as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham deposes Assad regime

The US Military launched “dozens” of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in central Syria on December 8, the day that President Bashir al-Assad’s regime was overthrown by the terrorist organization...

America Must Stand with Syria’s Kurds

Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan is playing with and stoking fires in Syria. Following the major military offensive mounted by the Salafi-jihadist forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in...

What’s next for Syria? Assad, Jihadist terrorist groups, and chemical weapons

Are Kurds under threat amid civil war resurgence in Syria?

Many wheels are in motion in Syria, which could leave Kurds and other minorities exposed.

‘Humanitarian Catastrophe’: Turkish Strikes Leave 1 Million in Northeast Syria Without Electricity, Water

Kurdish-Held Northeast Syria Faces Electricity, Water Crisis: Turkish strikes in northeast Syria have left more than 1 million people in northeast Syria without access to electricity...

‘An Effective Solution’: Turkey Pushes for Arms Embargo Against Israel

Turkey Calls for Halting Weapons Shipments to Israel: Turkey submitted a letter — cosigned by 52 countries, among them Russia, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia — to the United Nations calling for...