Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), expressing satisfaction while emphasizing the need to verify implementation on the ground.
'Our job is to act professionally and check whether these things have a real equivalent in the field. If it is as stated, this is of course a welcome development. It is complementary to the steps we currently want to take,' Fidan said, recalling the ongoing peace process and efforts for the PKK members to disarm.
In line with efforts to establish peace with Kurds, prior to SDF, PKK decided to dissolve itself in May 2025 and with the recently adopted framework law, grounds for the return of PKK members were settled. SDF’s decision to dissolve came soon after the Turkish government started to take steps on implementing the law.
Noting that Ankara will monitor real-world compliance, Fidan said that protecting Syrian sovereignty remains vital alongside Kurdish rights: “The text released in Damascus is positive on paper. If it reflects reality in practice, it is exceptionally positive.”
ERDOĞAN HIGHLIGHTS REGIONAL SHIFT
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered his first public remarks following the group's dissolution, framing the event as a historical turning point for the region.
“History is being rewritten in our region,” Erdoğan said. “Friend and foe alike should know that Turkey is shaping history.”
Speaking at a commemoration event for the 955th anniversary of the Malazgirt Battle, which opened the gates of Anatolia to Turkish settlement, Erdoğan invoked an ancient Turkish military tradition.
‘WE HAVE TIED OUR HORSE’S TAIL’
“We have tied our horse’s tail to achieve our goal of a terror-free Turkey and region,” he said. “We will continue forward with determination, patience, and resolve.”
The phrase references a historic battle custom dating back to Seljuk Sultan Alparslan, symbolizing full commitment and readiness for any sacrifice.
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi announced the formal dissolution of the group on Aug. 25. The move ended the administration established in 2015 across northeastern Syria.
Under the agreement, Kurdish armed units will be integrated into the Syrian national army, while regional civil institutions will be merged into the central government framework in Damascus.
Turkey long regarded the SDF as a primary security threat due to its core component, the YPG, which Ankara considers the Syrian branch of the outlawed PKK. Between 2016 and 2019, Turkey launched multiple cross-border military operations to limit the group's presence near its border.
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Ankara demanded the complete disbandment of the SDF and participated in diplomatic talks regarding the integration process.
