American officials are warning of a potential large-scale Turkish military operation in northern Syria, targeting areas controlled by U.S.-backed Kurds.
According to sources, significant Turkish military forces, including militia, commandos, and heavy artillery, have amassed on the border near Kobani, a Kurdish-majority city.
This buildup began after the fall of the Assad regime in early December, strongly resembling Ankara’s movements before the 2019 invasion of northeastern Syria. “We are monitoring the situation and pressing for restraint,” a U.S. official stated.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Ilham Ahmed, an official of the Kurdish political administration, wrote a letter to then President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to intervene and persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to prevent a new invasion. “Turkey’s aim is to impose its control over our lands before you assume office, forcing you to engage with them as the de facto rulers of our territory,” Ahmed wrote, warning of “catastrophic consequences” should Turkey intervene.
This development has left the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) vulnerable. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Turkey last week to discuss Syria’s future with Erdoğan and seek assurances that Ankara would limit operations against Kurdish fighters.
However, U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks between Syrian Kurds and Turkey-backed rebels in Kobani collapsed on Monday without agreement, according to an SDF spokesperson. The SDF is now observing “significant military gatherings” east and west of the city, the spokesperson said.
“From the border, we can already see Turkish forces massing, and civilians live under the constant fear of imminent death and destruction,” Ahmed wrote to Trump.
Ahmed warned that a Turkish offensive would displace over 200,000 Kurdish civilians in Kobani and reminded Trump of his past commitment that the United States “would not abandon the Kurds.”
Ahmed urged then President-elect Trump to use his influence to prevent the Turkish invasion and protect Kurdish communities who have been steadfast allies in the fight for peace and security. “Erdoğan has heeded your voice in the past,” he emphasized, “and we believe your leadership can avert this disaster.”