After the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the new enemy is now foreign powers, the most dangerous of which is Israel. As we have seen, the Israeli army has reached the outskirts of Damascus despite the fact that the opposition groups (now we can say the government) have not fired a single bullet at Israel. Israel is now in Syria and it will never leave. But this is not the only danger. As we have seen and will see, it has bombed all the lethal weapons left by the old regime, leaving the new administration vulnerable to it. Because the Bashar al-Assad regime that was friendly with Israel is no more.
Israel will not stop here. It will expand further into Syria by annexing the Druze-dominated territories in the south. Then it will try to reach the YPG-controlled areas from the south upwards. Once there, it will also seize the oil wells in Deir Zor.
Now that Israel is behind it, the YPG will continue to dream of statehood and will continue to disturb both the new Syrian government and Turkey. In fact, if the Kurds in Syria had never been involved with the PKK, they would be with the opposition and would have a say in the future of Syria. We don’t know if one day they will learn about the losses they have suffered by being intertwined with the PKK, but it is certain that they will suffer in the coming period.
It is highly likely that the US will not withdraw from Syria. Even if the Trump administration wants to withdraw, Israel will not allow it. It is enough for America if Israel says “my security is at stake”. There is not a single congressman in the US Congress who would reject Israel’s request. The YPG may think that it will be relieved by Israel’s patronage and the presence of American troops, but its stance does not seem sustainable at all.
Because no matter who they hide behind, they cannot enter into any structure that Turkey does not approve. It is enough for them to compare what they were 10 years ago with what they are today to understand what their gains and losses are. They may still want to maintain the status quo at the hands of the US and/or Israel, but it is a great blunder to wait for decades to pass before they realize that no one will die for them.
In this country, it is a great opportunity for even a nationalist leader like Devlet Bahçeli to extend the hand of peace (a call that has not contributed even a single vote to his own person or party). Turkey will ensure its own security in every way, perhaps paying a higher price, but those who are caught between elephants will not live long. Therefore, if there is a sane person among them, they should knock on Turkey’s door as soon as possible. Arabs in Syria are enjoying being together with Turkey. Syrian Kurds are not inferior to Arabs in the eyes of Turkey. If they come, they will be accepted.
However, if they want to come under someone else’s wing, especially if they operate as an organization linked to Israel, the Kurdish people will react first and foremost. But the biggest anger will come from the Turkish state. This anger is unlike any other. It is less likely that the US has its eyes on Turkish territory, but there is no forgiveness for being a subcontractor for Israel’s “Desirable Land” nonsense and bringing the Zionist state’s soldiers to our borders. The punishment will surely be great.
Therefore, the YPG has to make an accounting between Turkey’s friendship and enmity. When the civil war started in Syria, Salih Muslim came and went to Turkey many times. They should think carefully about how the choices they made that day have benefited them. Years later, when the door to peace is still open, they should try to enter. Because the footsteps of a bigger war are coming and those caught in the middle have no chance of survival.
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