People's Defense Units

January 26, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

The strategic Tishrin Dam has become a flashpoint in post-Assad Syria

The Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates River in Syria has become a key point of conflict in the country’s post-Assad era. Since the fall of dictator Bashar al Assad’s regime on December 8, the dam has been...

January 17, 2025 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

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....

January 7, 2025 | |

Turkey Pushing for ‘Elimination’ of Kurdish-Led, U.S.-Allied Syrian Democratic Forces

Clashes Intensify Between SDF and SNA over Tishrin Dam: Clashes have escalated between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the U.S.-allied and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic...

December 18, 2024 | Ahmad Sharawi |

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...

December 17, 2024 | Ahmad Sharawi |

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...

December 16, 2024 | |

‘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...

December 14, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

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.

December 1, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

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.

November 19, 2024 | |

‘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...

July 8, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria and Turkey could be headed for new era of ties

It is plausible that Turkey-Syria reconciliation could also come at the expense of Israel, because it could be seen as a way for Iran to use this to unite more arenas against Israel.

October 6, 2023 | |

U.S. Shoots Down Turkish Drone Threatening Troops in Syria

The United States and Turkey worked to defuse tensions after the October 5 downing of an armed Turkish drone by an American F-16 in northeast Syria. The drone reportedly flew within...

July 20, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey is granting citizenship to international criminals 

The reelection of Recep Tayyip Erdogan as Turkey’s president is resurfacing the question of whether Turkey is reanchoring itself in the Western alliance. Nothing could be further...

January 10, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

U.S. and Turkey Take Joint Action to Disrupt ISIS Financing

The U.S. Treasury and its Turkish counterpart, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, took joint action yesterday to designate four individuals and two entities tied to the Islamic State (ISIS) for enabling...

January 9, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

‘Enough Is Enough’: What Blinken Should Tell Turkey’s Cavusoglu

If Washington is going to listen to Turkey’s demands, it is incumbent upon Ankara to once and for all act like an ally.

December 6, 2022 | Sinan Ciddi |

Biden Must Act to Prevent a Turkish Attack on US Partners in Northern Syria

Following a barrage of air strikes against Kurdish targets in northern Syria, the Turkish government has vowed to follow up with a ground campaign against the Syrian-Kurdish People’s Protection Units...

May 25, 2022 | Clifford D. May |

NATO’s problem child

Turkey threatens to blackball Sweden and Finland

May 18, 2022 | Eric S. Edelman |

The Strongman Cometh

Why Erdoğan suddenly has a problem with Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

October 18, 2021 | Aykan Erdemir, David Adesnik

Turkey Threatens New Military Offensive in Northern Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on October 11 that he has “no patience left” for attacks by Syrian Kurdish fighters targeting Turkey’s border towns and Turkish forces in northern Syria,...

August 17, 2021 | Aykan Erdemir |

Turkey Turns to Taliban, But There is no More Airport Deal to Salvage

Turkey’s Erdogan hoped to secure another bargaining chip with the West by taking over running of Kabul’s international airport. Suddenly, it’s not looking so simple.

August 16, 2020 | Aykan Erdemir, Philip Kowalski

Joe Biden Will Be America’s Most Pro-Kurdish President

The real test of Biden’s pro-Kurdish sentiments will be whether the need to maintain pragmatic cooperation with Ankara and Baghdad will ultimately force him to temper his commitment to the Kurds that the mountains are not their only friends.