Turkish-Kurdish conflict

ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey's Fidan says Israel ties harden SDF stance as Syria clashes grow

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday blamed the Syrian Democratic Forces’ ties with Israel for what he cast as the group's increasingly uncompromising posture in Syria.

US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gesture as they pose for a photo during a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war on Oct. 13, 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Analysis

Trump-Erdogan ties pay off for Turkey in 2025 as Ankara pushes for F-35s

Leader-level diplomacy between Ankara and Washington produced selective gains but failed to break the deadlock over defense sanctions imposed for Turkey’s S-400 purchase.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives for a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City, on Sept. 22, 2025.

A year on, uncertainty shadows Washington's bet on Syria

The Trump administration has embraced Syria's new leadership, but engagement is being tested by security risks and unresolved questions about Damascus' control.

Turkish Foreign Ministery Press Service / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey denies internal rifts as top officials in Syria ahead of SDF deadline

Turkey’s ruling party denies there are internal rifts over the Syrian Democratic Forces and insists that the Kurdish-led group must disarm.

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Analysis

After Palmyra attack, Turkey adds pressure for SDF deal with Damascus

A picture taken on March 2, 2017, shows a sign displaying the routes to Palmyra-Deir Ezzor and Damascus-Iraq as Syrian regime fighters advance to retake the ancient city of Palmyra, from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Ankara: Jailed PKK chief favors unitary Syria, no separate Kurdish defense force

Syrian Kurds lift placards and flags during a rally calling for an autonomous administration and Kurdish rights in Syria's predominantly Kurdish northeastern city of Qamishli, on Sept. 17, 2025.

Exclusive

Top PYD official Aldar Khalil: 'Syria is telling Kurds to separate'

Kurdish official Aldar Khalil, who played a key role in establishing Syria's semiautonomous Kurdish region in 2013, during an interview in Qamishli on Dec. 22, 2018.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Analysis

PKK leader Ocalan gains legitimacy in Turkey, bigger sway over Syria’s Kurds

People take part in a demonstration to call for the liberation of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan outside the European Council in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Sept. 15, 2025.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Fighters of Turkish-supported forces are positioned on the Buwayhij-Boughaz-Korhoyuk frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria, as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sept. 6, 2023.

Turkey-backed Syrian factions end US-mediated ceasefire with Kurdish-led SDF

Sources told Al-Monitor that negotiations between the sides had “failed” amid “significant military buildups” on the Turkish border.

CEO of Colony Capital Tom Barrack speaks on the last day of the Republican National Convention, on July 21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Analysis

Tom Barrack, Trump's pick for Turkey ambassador, is good news for Erdogan

The US billionaire's close ties with the president-elect and a portfolio in dealmaking could provide room for improvement in Ankara-Washington ties, according to experts.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Fighters with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) inspect damaged and abandoned military vehicles and equipment at the Qamishli international airport, formerly a joint Syrian-russian military base, in northeastern Syria's city of Qamishli on Dec. 9, 2024.

Exclusive

Syria’s Kurds withdraw from Manbij following US ultimatum

The ultimatum came as the militants failed to comply with an agreement brokered by the United States to pull out of the city in exchange for assurances that Turkey and its SNA allies would not attack the SDF east of the river.

Amberin Zaman

Jared Szuba

By Amberin Zaman , Jared Szuba

A fighter prepares mortar ammunition as Turkish-supported forces deploy on the Buwayhij-Boughaz-Korhoyuk frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria, as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sept. 6, 2023.

Syria’s Kurds under opposition assault as Erdogan vows to protect Turkey from 'terror'

Clashes are intensifying as Turkey-backed forces push up against Kurdish fighters.

An anti-government fighter celebrates at Umayyad Square in Damascus, on Dec. 8, 2024.

Who controls what in Syria as post-Assad transition begins?

President Bashar al-Assad left Syria shortly before rebel forces took the capital, Damascus, leaving various groups in control of different parts of the country.

Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister, Hakan Fidan delivers a press conferense after his meeting with his Greek counterpart in Athens, on November 8, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)

With Assad gone, Turkey urges Syrian opposition to unite, warns against PKK

The top Turkish diplomat struck a composed tone following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and called for unity among the Syrian opposition.

One of the two top political leaders of the Syrian Kurdish alliance and co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council Ilham Ahmed attends a press conference, in Paris, on Dec. 21, 2018.

Interview

Syrian Kurd FM Ilham Ahmed says PKK leader Ocalan's words of 'vital importance'

Ilham Ahmed, the de facto foreign minister of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, spoke to Al-Monitor about the latest developments in the region, including Turkey's new initiative to end its conflict with the outlawed PKK.

Ilham Ahmed

Ilham Ahmed

Co-President of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

KEMAL ASLAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey detains more than 230 as pressure on opposition ramps up

The detentions include pro-Kurdish politicians, rights activists and journalists.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participate in a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on November 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. The two leaders had a meeting in the Oval Office before speaking to the media at the news conference. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

After Trump win, Turkey hopeful on Syria reconciliation, US withdrawal

Ankara expresses hope for mending ties with Damascus as well as a potential US military exit from northern Syria following Trump’s victory.

Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Analysis

Are Turkey's Erdogan and his nationalist ally about to fall out over Kurds?

For weeks assorted Turkish officials have been leaking claims that there is indeed daylight between the president and his ally of a sort that may even result in an unraveling of their nine-year partnership that has helped keep the AKP in power.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

US President Donald Trump (L) talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) at NATO headquarters in Brussels during a NATO summit, July 11, 2018.

Erdogan invites Trump to Turkey, seeking end to US-Syrian Kurd alliance

The Turkish president described his conversation with the US president-elect as “sincere,” revealing that it had taken place while Donald Trump was at a family dinner that included Elon Musk.

US President Donald Trump greets Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan(L) upon arrival outside the White House in Washington, on Nov. 13, 2019.

Turkey’s Erdogan congratulates 'friend' Trump, but can bond survive friction over Gaza, Syria’s Kurds?

Despite occasional spats, Trump and Erdogan got along famously during the former president's first term.