Turkish DEM Party Links Syrian Kurdish Violence to Fragile Domestic Peace Initiative
Updated (3 articles)
DEM Leaders Cite Syrian Kurdish Bloodshed as Direct Threat to Turkey’s Reconciliation At a Nusaybin rally on 20 January 2026, DEM chair Tulay Hatimogullari warned that ongoing massacres of Kurds in Syria could unravel Turkey’s delicate peace talks with Kurdish militants, tying regional conflict to domestic stability [1].
Ceasefire and Integration Deal Faces Immediate Test After Renewed Clashes A cease‑fire and integration agreement signed on 19 January 2026 between interim President al‑Sharaa’s Syrian government and the Kurdish‑led SDF required the SDF to surrender most of its northeastern territory and integrate fighters case‑by‑case, but fresh fighting on 20 January threatened the pact and prompted SDF resistance [1].
Erdogan Presses SDF to Honor Accord While PKK Begins Disarmament President Erdogan publicly urged the SDF not to stall the cease‑fire, insisting on swift implementation, and highlighted a concurrent PKK disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq and the withdrawal of remaining PKK fighters from Turkey [1].
Nusaybin Protesters’ Flag Removal Sparks Police Confrontation and Political Backlash DEM supporters in Nusaybin lowered a Turkish flag from a military observation post, triggering clashes with police; an Erdogan aide condemned the act as sabotage of the peace initiative, underscoring internal political tensions [1].
Timeline
Dec 22, 2025 – Clashes erupt in Aleppo between Syrian army units and the Kurdish‑led SDF, leaving at least three dead and 31 wounded, as the integration deadline looms [1].
Dec 22, 2025 – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visits Damascus and backs the talks, declaring “integration should occur through dialogue and reconciliation” [1].
Dec 22, 2025 – Turkey reiterates its stance that the SDF is linked to the PKK, which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization [1].
Dec 23, 2025 – A Turkish delegation led by FM Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Güler and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin meets interim President Ahmad al‑Jaafari in Damascus; Fidan frames integration as vital for regional stability, saying “Syria’s stability means Turkey’s stability” [3].
Dec 23, 2025 – Clashes intensify in Aleppo as the Turkish delegation arrives; state media report two civilian deaths and 15 injuries, while the SDF reports 17 wounded and a woman killed, prompting dozens of families to flee two neighborhoods [3].
Dec 23, 2025 – Both sides blame each other for the initial firing; the Syrian Defence Ministry orders a cease‑fire later that evening, signaling a pause amid diplomatic talks [3].
Dec 23, 2025 – Integration talks stall over the SDF’s future structure: Turkey opposes treating the SDF as a single unit, while Kurdish officials propose that three divisions integrate as cohesive units [3].
Jan 19, 2026 – Syria’s interim president al‑Sharaa’s government and the SDF sign a cease‑fire and integration agreement, requiring the SDF to surrender most of its northeastern territory and to have fighters integrated into Syrian security forces on a case‑by‑case basis [2].
Jan 20, 2026 – DEM party leader Tulay Hatimogullari warns that “true peace cannot exist while Kurds are being massacred in Syria,” arguing that Syrian violence threatens Turkey’s reconciliation with Kurdish militants [2].
Jan 20, 2026 – President Erdogan publicly urges the SDF to honor the cease‑fire and integration plan, warning that any obstruction will jeopardize the agreement [2].
Jan 20, 2026 – The PKK signals disarmament, holding a ceremony in northern Iraq and withdrawing remaining fighters from Turkey as part of the broader peace effort [2].
Mar 10, 2026 – The March‑10 integration deadline approaches, requiring the SDF to merge into Syrian state institutions and for the cease‑fire to be fully implemented [1][3].