Türkiye offers to take over Syria’s ISIS fight if US withdraws

Türkiye has proposed to the US that it could take over the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, should American troops withdraw and halt their support for Kurdish forces.

The US has yet to respond to this offer, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

The development follows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's announcement of plans to establish a safe zone along Syria's border and expel Kurdish forces deemed hostile.

Türkiye’s military, the second-largest in NATO, sees the fight against Kurdish separatists as an existential struggle. In contrast, the US views Kurdish groups as essential in the battle against the Islamic State in Syria. As tensions rise, questions remain over how the US will balance its interests in the region, especially after Donald Trump’s victory in the November presidential election.

The situation in Syria is complicated further by the involvement of Russia and Iran. With Russia and Iran otherwise engaged, Erdoğan's move could be seen as an opportunity to assert more control. Moscow, meanwhile, is working with Türkiye to stabilize the region, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan holding talks over the weekend.

Notably, the crisis has intensified as Turkish-backed rebels captured Aleppo over the weekend, a city crucial to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Assad is now facing increased pressure, as both Russia and Iran struggle to provide substantial support, with Moscow’s resources stretched by its involvement in Ukraine and Iran weakened by Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah.

This has opened the door for rebel forces, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a breakaway faction of al-Qaeda, to gain momentum in Syria. The group has seized Aleppo and is now advancing towards Hama, with their ultimate goal of taking Damascus.

Assad has been forced to consult with his allies, with reports indicating that Russia and Iran are struggling to provide the necessary assistance to counter the growing opposition. As the situation worsens, the future of Assad’s regime hangs in the balance.

By Aghakazim Guliyev