Türkiye warns YPG: No room in Syria’s new army for terrorists

Türkiye has reaffirmed its commitment to counterterrorism efforts and warned that it will not overlook any attempts by the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist group, to exploit Syria’s post-Assad transition, sources from the Turkish Defence Ministry said on June 12.

“There has been no decrease in Türkiye’s decisiveness on the fight against terrorism,” ministry sources emphasised, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

“Our main aim as Türkiye is the preservation of Syria’s unity and territorial integrity, enhancing Syria’s security capacity and ensuring cooperation between the two countries on the fight against terrorism,” they added.

The statement comes as Türkiye intensifies its scrutiny of recent developments in Syria following the ousting of Bashar Assad in December and the formation of a new government. One of Ankara’s top priorities is ensuring that the YPG, which currently controls about one-third of Syria’s territory — including most of its vital oil and gas reserves — is prevented from legitimising its presence through integration into the country’s new military structure.

In March, a deal was struck between Syria’s interim president and Ferhat Abdi Şahin, also known by his nom de guerre "Mazloum Kobani," the leader of the YPG. Rather than engage in direct conflict, Damascus opted to negotiate the group’s incorporation into the new Syrian national army — a move Türkiye views with deep suspicion.

For over a decade, Türkiye has supported opposition forces in Syria and conducted multiple military operations in the north, driving YPG forces out of key areas and curbing cross-border attacks. Ankara maintains that the YPG’s presence poses an ongoing threat to its national security.

On the matter of the PKK’s reported disarmament, Defence Ministry sources confirmed that Türkiye is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with all relevant institutions. “The developments on the field following the decision of the terrorist organisation to lay down arms are being followed closely… while all precautions are being taken,” the sources said, adding that operations to locate and destroy PKK hideouts and tunnels remain ongoing.

In a separate briefing, Defence Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk announced that six more terrorists surrendered over the past week after anti-terror operations in northern Iraq. Aktürk also highlighted the impact of domestic pressure campaigns, such as the protests outside the pro-PKK Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) office in Diyarbakır by families demanding the return of children abducted or recruited by the group.

“Numerous weapons, ammunition and materials seized from terrorist shelters — especially in the Claw-Key operation zone in northern Iraq — have been rendered unusable,” Aktürk said. He stressed that Türkiye’s border security continues to be enforced with advanced, multi-layered systems.

Aktürk shared updated statistics from border security operations. Since January 1, 2,559 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally have been apprehended, including 112 in the past week alone. A further 37,637 individuals have been prevented from crossing, with 1,634 of those attempts thwarted just last week. This week, 87 kilograms of narcotics were also confiscated during screening operations along the Van border.

He also provided an update on tunnel neutralisation operations in northern Syria. Since the campaign began on January 8, a total of 275 kilometres of terrorist-dug tunnels have been destroyed — 151 kilometres in the Tal Rifaat region and 124 kilometres around Manbij.

By Tamilla Hasanova