US senators introduce bill to impose sanctions on Türkiye over military actions in Syria

On December 20, two US senators, Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) and Lindsey Graham (Republican), introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at imposing sanctions on Türkiye due to its military operations in northern Syria.

The proposed legislation, titled the "Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024," seeks to address concerns over Türkiye’s actions and those of groups it supports, particularly in relation to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The senators have expressed the hope that the sanctions threat will push the involved parties toward a ceasefire. However, they also stressed the importance of continued diplomatic efforts by Washington to encourage a sustained ceasefire and the creation of a demilitarized zone between Türkiye and Syria.

In a statement, the senators emphasized that the sanctions aim to prevent further attacks on the SDF by Türkiye or its backed forces, warning that such actions could lead to the re-emergence of ISIS (the Islamic State), which would pose a significant threat to both US and global security.

Hostilities in northern Syria have escalated since Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was ousted less than two weeks ago.

Despite the abovementioned developments, on December 16, the US government expressed its support for Türkiye’s fight against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), which is designated as a terrorist organization by both Türkiye and the US. At the same time, the US reaffirmed its commitment to the SDF’s role in combating ISIS.

State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller made it clear that while the US respects Türkiye’s right to target the PKK, the US also urged Türkiye to avoid escalating tensions by launching attacks against Kurdish forces in Syria. He noted that Syria is in a fragile state and emphasized that all parties should focus on stability rather than pursuing their own unilateral interests which could lead to further sectarian violence.

The US brokered a four-day ceasefire between the SDF and Türkiye, which has been extended through the end of this week.

The situation in Syria has been rapidly changing, particularly following the recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by a coalition of armed groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This shift has added further complexity to the already volatile situation in the region, with the ongoing power struggles between competing forces in Syria. 

By Tamilla Hasanova