The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that an agreement has been signed with the Damascus government providing for the gradual integration of military and administrative forces. In the statement, it was noted that the agreement covers not only military structures on the ground but also local governance mechanisms, and that the process will be carried out in phases and based on mutual consent. The agreement is being interpreted as potentially opening the door to a new period amid Syria’s prolonged political and military uncertainty.
Politician Ali Haydar Elyakut spoke to ANF about the latest developments in Rojava, the gains achieved by the Kurdish people, and the political and social process that has taken shape in the wake of these gains.
The main target of the attacks is Kurdish gains
Ali Haydar Elyakut said there has been a serious assault on Kurdish gains in Rojava with the backing of international powers, and continued: “When we look at how this conflictual process has developed, we can now see more clearly the purpose of these attacks, what they are targeting, and which dynamics are involved in this process of assault. At first, some aspects remained unclear, but with the course of the conflict, and with where the confrontation has now reached, the agreement that has been made, and beyond that, the approaches of international powers to this conflictual process, a clearer picture has emerged before us. We are now able to see these attacks more clearly and assess them in a proper way. First of all, it must be said that this attack should not be viewed merely as a periodic or temporary assault. This attack has also been described by Kurdish leadership as a ‘15 February attack,’ and this is indeed an accurate and well-founded assessment.
It is necessary to examine in what ways this process is connected to 15 February. On 15 February, Kurdish existence as a whole was targeted. When we look at the international developments of that period and the regional balances, a new Middle East was being reshaped. In that reshaping of the Middle East, certain powers were given an active role, and decisions were taken to eliminate movements and leaderships that were seen as obstacles to their own policies and strategies at the outset of the Middle East process.”
Elyakut also said: “The main purpose of the international conspiracy carried out against Abdullah Öcalan was precisely this. After the conspiracy resulted in the abduction in Kenya, the attack on Iraq marked the opening signal of what we call the Third World War in the Middle East, and in that world, there was no place for the Kurds. In some of the talks held at the time, it was openly stated to Kurdish forces, even when certain agreements were sought with international powers to get through this period, ‘In our new strategy, there is no place for you; there is no place for the Kurds.’ The person who said this was the Central Intelligence Agency regional chief for the Middle East at the time. He said, ‘There is no place for the Kurds.’ With the conspiracy carried out then and now, the aim was to eliminate Kurdish leadership and the Kurdish movement and to target a Kurdish reality deprived of status, leaving no place for the Kurds in the newly created balances. Only on one condition would their existence be tolerated: if a Kurdish entity could be created, that would function entirely as their satellite and could be used as a battering ram for their own purposes. However, they stated openly that movements with a different worldview and those proposing an alternative model of life would not be allowed to survive, and the conspiracy was implemented in this way. We also know the twenty-seven years that followed, a period marked by major wars, conflicts, and operations of genocide.
Yet there were also different developments in this period. What were these different developments? A Kurdish entity was formed in Iraq. Although to some extent under their control and in line with conditions they deemed acceptable, they allowed the existence of a Kurdish structure they believed suited their own interests. But they were determined not to allow the Kurdish Freedom Movement, which lays off claim to freedom and seeks alternative models of life, to survive in this geography. This mindset was operative at the time, and the driving force of the conspiracy then was the United Kingdom; this should not be forgotten.”
A new phase of redesign has been launched
Ali Haydar Elyakut said that hegemonic powers have launched a new phase of redesign in the Middle East. He added: “The Middle East reality that was shaped in the new century is now being changed, and a new configuration of the Middle East is being pursued in line with present-day conditions. This decision has been made, definitively. Once again, it is the United Kingdom that is leading this process.”
Elyakut noted that the United Kingdom lost its position of global hegemony particularly after the Second World War, with the United States taking its place, yet said that the two-hundred-year trajectory of British policy toward the Middle East remains in effect. He added that recent developments have made the role of the United Kingdom in the attacks on Rojava clearly visible.
Elyakut also said that after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized Damascus under the leadership of Ahmed Al-Sharaa (al-Jolani), the group began to receive international backing. He said alliances were formed with radical Islamist groups that had until recently been labelled as terrorist, and that all manner of support was provided to them. He said this is a clear indication that maps in the Middle East are once again being redrawn.
Turkey must abandon its hostile approach toward the Kurds
Ali Haydar Elyakut said the international community remained silent in the face of the attacks on Rojava, recalling that the Kurdish people have paid a heavy price over the past decade while fighting the threat of ISIS alongside the International Coalition against ISIS. He said the initial silence that emerged was itself an indication of the plan directed against Rojava.
Elyakut also addressed the negotiation process underway in Turkey, saying that the portrayal of the Kurds as enemies must be abandoned. He said safeguarding the status of the Kurds in Rojava and moving the negotiation process into a new phase would create a more secure basis for the future for both Kurds and Turks.
The model in Rojava is an example of governance for the world
Elyakut said the model built by the Kurds in Rojava offers an example for the world, noting that this system, established under women’s leadership, represents an experience without parallel in the Middle East. He said resistance has been mounted against all attacks, foremost among them those by ISIS, and that a democratic autonomous structure has been built in North and East Syria.
Kurds face a threat of genocide
Ali Haydar Elyakut said the Kurds in Rojava are facing a threat of genocide and continued: “It must be understood that this agreement came after intense waves of attacks and pressure. International powers did not tolerate the continued presence of the Kurds in the region; HTS and similar radical groups were supported, and a plan for Syria in which the Kurds were neutralised was put into effect. A Middle East without free Kurds was targeted. However, Abdullah Öcalan’s intervention in the process from Imralı and intensive diplomatic efforts created a ground, after the attacks, for resolving problems not through arms but through negotiation and democratic means.
During the attacks, HTS and radical Salafi groups issued calls for the Kurds to surrender. These calls completely disregarded the constitutional rights and democratic gains of the Kurds. However, the Kurdish people mounted resistance across the four parts of Kurdistan. Support and solidarity came from Europe and various parts of the world; the Kurds demonstrated a strong resistance to protect their existence both within their historical borders and in Rojava. This process once again made the need for Kurdish unity visible and strengthened the historical national spirit.”
Elyakut added: “Today, the Kurds have secured both their presence and their institutional structures in the territories they hold in Rojava. Institutions established under women’s leadership and key democratic gains are being preserved. This agreement shows that the Kurds will not be left defenceless and that their democratic rights are safeguarded. The process is also strengthening Kurdish unity and self-administration and demonstrates that the Kurdish presence in Rojava has reached a point that can no longer be called into question.”
Kurds are the most dynamic people in the Middle East
Ali Haydar Elyakut pointed to the significance of the agreement signed between the Transitional Damascus Government and the SDF and said: “The Kurds are among the most dynamic peoples in the Middle East. They possess the ideological foundations, national spirit, and strategic understanding necessary both to resist and to organise; for this reason, it is not easy to defeat or eliminate them. This agreement represents an important gain for the Kurds and opens certain opportunities. For example, how structures established under the leadership of Kurdish women, including models such as women’s organised defence forces, will be positioned in this process is not yet clear.
However, one thing can be said clearly: the Kurds initiated this process with the aim of integration and signed the agreement, but how this integration will take place is a critical question. There are clues in the text of the agreement; this could mark the beginning of a democratic process in Syria. The Kurdish presence must be secured, their self-defence must be placed on firm foundations, and their gains must reach a point where they can no longer be questioned. When constitutional and legal guarantees are in place, the Kurds, as one of the most dynamic peoples of Syria and the Middle East, will become pioneers of a new life and a driving force for change in the region.
The current Syrian regime, the so-called ‘Syrian Arab Republic,’ is shaped by radical Salafi forces and a nationalist–religious blend; for this reason, the Kurds cannot be directly integrated into this structure. However, if the Kurds act based on their own strength, strengthen their organisation, and build their diplomatic relations effectively, they can take their place as key actors shaping Syria’s future. This will only be possible by consolidating mechanisms of self-administration at home. The democratic autonomy built by the Kurds will play a decisive role in building a Syria in which a shared life with other peoples is guaranteed.”
Major responsibility rests with guarantor states
Ali Haydar Elyakut underlined that major responsibility lies with the guarantor states in the implementation of the agreement and said: “The United States and France have stated that they could act as guarantors of this agreement, and this is a positive step diplomatically. The Kurds need to strengthen their relations with all sides and secure their rights through democratic means. After more than fifty years of war and loss, the Kurds are a people who prefer to defend their rights through peaceful methods. Although this process is full of difficulties, the Kurds have always tended to choose the path of peace.
Of course, there are doubts and concerns, and these are natural. However, for the first time in the Middle East, the Kurds have found such a diplomatic opening, and they need to use it effectively. Building relations with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Israel are important, and their role as guarantor states is a positive step. Yet in the Middle East, any force that institutionalises its power and secures its existence succeeds. For this reason, relying on their own strength is the fundamental priority for the Kurds, and conducting international relations within this framework is essential to safeguarding their rights.”
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