Media: YPG prepares for battle, not peace, as 18,000 terrorists amass near Syria

As Türkiye moves towards being terrorism-free, the YPG—the PKK’s Syrian branch—seems to prepare for conflict, with 18,000 militants reportedly deployed to Sinjar near the Syrian border after the Kandil Mountains dissolution congress.

Security sources operating in the Syrian theatre report an increase in preparations along the terrorist frontlines, including tunnel digging, stockpiling weapons and ammunition, and reinforcement of militant ranks, Caliber.Az reports, citing Türkiye Gazetesi.

Abdulaziz Temo, Head of the Independent Kurdish Liaison, has claimed that the group persistently seeks to provoke Arab tribes against Türkiye and the Syrian government through various promises to recruit fighters.

Temo explained, “The Assad regime’s intelligence and Iran were the lifeline for the PKK in this region, but that connection has been severed. Now, they are trying to survive through support from several other intelligence agencies. The PKK is stalling the Syrian government. PYD leaders Salih Muslim and Elder Halil recently stated openly that they do not recognise Damascus as a state and that no disarmament is on the table. They declared, ‘We are a state and will negotiate with Damascus as equals.’”

The YPG and Iran-based PJAK have reportedly reached an agreement to continue their armed struggle jointly, with some militants asserting, “Öcalan cannot interfere with us.” Abdulaziz Temo confirmed the transfer of 18,000 PKK militants to Sinjar and noted the discomfort expressed by the Barzani administration regarding this move. Field sources also indicate that Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias are actively involved in the process.

A military source in Damascus remarked on the threatening nature of Muslim and Halil’s recent statements, describing them as undermining the prospects for peace. Syrian officials reiterated that there will be no autonomous administrations or liberated zones in Syria, warning: “No one should attempt to engineer a new civil war or chaos. Otherwise, all such ambitions will be shattered.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev