Farhad Shami, head of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Press Centre, issued a stern warning yesterday about Turkey’s actions in Syria, accusing Ankara of attempting to destabilise the region and sabotage ongoing dialogues between the SDF and the Syrian interim government.
“We must be careful of Turkish attempts to turn Syria into a front against Arab countries, especially the Gulf states,” Shami stated, highlighting what he views as Turkey’s broader geopolitical ambitions in the region.
Shami emphasised the importance of ongoing negotiations with Damascus, calling them “useful and necessary”. He elaborated, “We are working to make these dialogues continuous. We seek mutual respect, and they are necessary to achieve peace and stability.”
However, Shami noted that these efforts have faced significant obstacles due to Turkish intervention.
“There are malicious parties, of course, who do not like these dialogues and are working to sabotage them,” he said. “We were in an advanced stage of resolving the issues related to the Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods in Aleppo, and the administration in Damascus was satisfied with the dialogue. The points of agreement were strong. However, according to what was conveyed to us, Turkey intervened and prevented the signing of the agreement between us and the administration in Damascus.”
Shami criticised Turkey’s role in Syria, arguing that Ankara has no intention of establishing a legitimate military force. “Turkey will not build an army in Syria, but rather militias affiliated with it, and the best thing it will offer is an army like the factions that fight among themselves on a daily basis over theft, humiliation, killing, and terrorising people,” he asserted. “Over the past years, Turkey has offered nothing but chaotic factions and mercenaries.”
He also condemned the individuals celebrated in recent Turkish-backed events.
“Some of the people who attended the ‘victory speech’ are war criminals and should have been arrested and tried instead of being promoted,” Shami declared. “They committed hundreds of documented crimes, including murder, theft, and rape, and they are on international sanctions lists. The international community knows and documents their crimes and terrorism, and we will continue to pursue them.”
Addressing the political dynamics within northern Syria, Shami stated, “The northern Syrian region now has a high political level and is capable of managing itself and confronting the marginalisation that was prevalent against it by successive authorities in Damascus, which viewed the region as a remote area with no capacity for development.”
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Regarding the presence of US forces, Shami confirmed their continued support in the fight against ISIS. “The US forces present in the region show a continued determination to continue working with the Syrian Democratic Forces to fight Islamic State (ISIS), and we have not received any reports from them of withdrawal,” he said.
Shami concluded by urging Damascus to recognise the changes in the region. “The transitional administration in Damascus must see this change and approach the region with its true identity and fair representation in politics and administration,” he stated.
The SDF’s warnings and statements underscore the fragile state of affairs in northern Syria, as regional powers vie for influence while local forces push for democracy, autonomy and stability.
