A recent report by the Kurdistan Strategic Research Centre Lekolin has revealed covert operations conducted by Turkey in Syria, revealing that its National Intelligence Agency (MİT) has infiltrated the Al-Sharaa transitional government in Damascus. The report outlines a systematic effort by Turkey to expand its dominance in the region, particularly by partnering with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and sidelining Kurdish autonomy.
Lekolin, a research organisation specialising in uncovering intelligence leaks and exposing Turkey’s regional operations, has long highlighted its clandestine activities in North and East Syria. The organisation has reported extensively on Turkey’s efforts to consolidate influence through military, political, and economic means, often at the expense of Kurdish rights and regional stability.
According to Lekolin, a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani (also known as Ahmad al-Sharaa) in Damascus on 22 December laid the groundwork for a Turkish delegation to hold high-level talks with members of Syria’s transitional government on 5 January. These developments align with Turkey’s strategy to block the establishment of a democratic and inclusive Syria, particularly one inspired by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
The report identifies key MİT operatives embedded in Damascus, detailing their names and areas of responsibility:
İbrahim Said: Coordinates visits of international delegations, including those from European and Arab countries.
Emre Bahar: Oversees foreign affairs within the governmental palace.
Nurtan Pınar: Manages Sharia-related operations and internal visits.
Kenan Kaya: Acts as liaison between the governmental palace and Syria’s Ministry of Defence.
Hikmet Akif: Handles general relations within Damascus.
Turkey’s close involvement with HTS, a group still designated as a terrorist organisation by many countries, further highlights its controversial role in shaping Syria’s future, while longstanding concerns regarding Kurdish autonomy in North and East Syria remain a key factor influencing its aggressive stance in the region. The potential for a democratic and inclusive Syria, inspired by AANES, poses a direct challenge to Turkey’s regional policies and its historical resistance to Kurdish self-determination. Despite growing pressure to embrace democratic reforms, Turkey’s actions in Damascus suggest a preference for control rather than a genuine transition to democracy.
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Earlier reports from Lekolin and other sources have also noted Turkey’s deployment of over 500 high-ranking military personnel and intelligence agents across Damascus and its rural areas. These moves aim to solidify Turkey’s political, economic, and military influence in Syria, ensuring the exclusion of Kurdish autonomy from any transitional framework.
Observers warn that Turkey’s actions are undermining efforts to establish a democratic and inclusive Syria. The exclusion of Kurdish voices, which are vital to the region’s diverse socio-political fabric, risks further destabilising Syria and delaying meaningful reconciliation in Turkey’s own Kurdish question.
This report calls for international scrutiny of Turkey’s actions in Syria and their impact on regional stability and Kurdish rights.
