US-SDF drills in Syria’s Kasrik base raise concerns amid Türkiye's security warnings

The US and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the extension of the Kurdish PKK/YPG group, recently carried out joint military exercises at the Kasrik base in the western part of al-Hasakah, Syria. 

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the drills involved live firing as well as helicopter strikes at decoys to enhance coordination and combat readiness between the forces, per Caliber.Az.

The primary objective was to prepare the forces to counter any potential threats in the region.

This military exercise comes amid growing concerns over the activities of the PKK/YPG, which is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and the European Union. Reports indicate that the PKK/YPG group is conducting additional armed training for its supporters who have travelled to Syria from Iraq and Iran. These recruits are part of a larger effort to consolidate control over strategic areas, particularly the town of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), as the group braces for possible Turkish military operations. Since January 3, the PKK/YPG has reportedly transported 1,300 supporters from Iran and Iraq to Syria to bolster their ranks.

The organization has been organizing its recruits into camps in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor for armed training and preparation. They are being gathered from areas in the provincial centre of Hasakah and the district of Qamishli, which have become key logistical hubs for the group. The PKK/YPG is said to be using these areas to move fighters between northern Iraq and northeastern Syria, strengthening their operational capacity.

The YPG's hold on one-third of Syria's territory remains a point of contention, particularly for neighbouring Türkiye, which views the group as an extension of the PKK, a separatist Kurdish organization that has been involved in violent insurgency against the Turkish state for decades. The PKK/YPG's continued presence and activities in northern Syria have strained relations in the region, with concerns growing over the involvement of foreign fighters, many of whom have travelled to Syria to join the group.

Turkey has made clear its stance on the matter, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issuing an ultimatum demanding that all foreign terrorists, including those from Türkiye, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, leave Syria immediately. "The ultimatum we gave to them is obvious. We have conveyed it through the Americans and the media," Fidan said, reiterating Türkiye's position.

The US has acknowledged Türkiye's security concerns, with US Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass stating that Washington understands the importance of addressing these threats. Bass emphasized that the foreign terrorists operating in Syria must leave, aligning with Turkey's calls for the removal of external fighters supporting groups like the PKK/YPG.

The increasing presence of foreign fighters in Syria, coupled with the growing military coordination between the US and SDF, has raised tensions in the region, and the situation remains fluid as these developments continue to unfold.

By Tamilla Hasanova