The US has withdrawn from that camp in Syria

23:063/02/2025, Monday
Yahya Bostan

The region is quite dynamic, with an intense flurry of diplomatic activity. The Middle East, and specifically Palestine, dominates the agenda. There are areas of convergence and divergence between Washington and Ankara’s approaches. On the Syrian front of the equation, Türkiye is working tirelessly to eliminate the PKK/SDF terrorist organization. US Policy Beyond Trump: Israel’s Security A fundamental pillar of US state policy—one that transcends Trump—is ensuring Israel’s security. As Netanyahu

The region is quite dynamic, with an intense flurry of diplomatic activity. The Middle East, and specifically Palestine, dominates the agenda. There are areas of convergence and divergence between Washington and Ankara’s approaches. On the Syrian front of the equation, Türkiye is working tirelessly to eliminate the PKK/SDF terrorist organization.


US Policy Beyond Trump: Israel’s Security

A fundamental pillar of US state policy—one that transcends Trump—is ensuring Israel’s security. As Netanyahu traveled to the US to meet with Trump, he declared his intent to "redraw the map of the Middle East." However, whether US and Israeli regional maps align remains uncertain. The real test for Trump lies in reconciling Netanyahu’s maximalist demands—framed as essential to Israel’s security—with the region’s geopolitical realities.


Can Saudi Arabia Resist?

Trump inevitably has to strike a balance on this issue, likely through compartmentalization—aligning with Israel on some matters while diverging on others. The US president has endorsed Israel’s annexation plans in Palestine and dismissed the two-state solution. His push for the expulsion of Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan (which Foreign Minister Fidan called "inhumane") stems from this stance.


Saudi Arabia’s position will be pivotal. Trump aims to anchor the region through Saudi-Israeli normalization, with his envoy shuttling between the two capitals. Israel’s US ambassador, Y. Leiter, has stated that normalization is "more possible than ever." However, with Ankara’s encouragement, Saudi Arabia insists on a two-state solution as a precondition. The Israeli envoy, in turn, suggested that this issue could be "managed through negotiations."


A Possible Rift Over Iran

Radicals in Tel Aviv are pushing for strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as reports circulate that Tehran could obtain nuclear weapons within 12–18 months. In this context, they are requesting bunker-buster bombs from Trump (who has already approved the shipment of MK-84s, halted under Biden). Despite Israel’s demands, Trump is expected to pursue negotiations with Iran, offering a deal in exchange for Iran abandoning nuclear development, staying out of Syria and Iraq, and severing ties with Yemen—all while maintaining his "maximum pressure" policy.


Did Trump Warn Israel About Türkiye?

Trump has yet to make a definitive statement on the future of the US military presence in Syria, but hints are emerging. Israeli state television Kan reported that Washington informed Israel of plans to withdraw thousands of American troops from Syria, causing alarm. The report emphasized that this message triggered deep concern in Israel. Trump later clarified: "We will not intervene in Syria. It’s a place full of problems."


Previously, we reported that the Trump administration had warned Israel against making statements against the Syrian government. This is because Trump views Syria as a component of a new regional equation. A friend of mine speculated: "A similar warning might have been sent regarding Türkiye as well. The Israelis are avoiding direct confrontation with Türkiye. Notably, Israel’s Defense Ministry did not mention ‘the Kurds in Syria’ in its latest press briefing."


Is Tel Aviv Giving the Cues to the Militant Group?

Israel’s goal is to divide Syria into four cantons, and it also seeks the removal of the new Syrian administration under Ahmed al-Sharaa. As part of this strategy, it maintains close ties with the terrorist group in northern Syria. Several statements point to an "alliance" between the group and Israel:


- F. Hussein, the so-called KRG representative of the SDF, claimed that Ahmed al-Sharaa would be ousted (a statement made to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency).

- Ilham Ahmed, another figurehead, argued that Israel should play a role in securing Syria’s border regions (as reported by The Jerusalem Post).


They Have Requested Two Years

The PKK/SDF has ignored calls to disarm and integrate into the Syrian army. Reportedly, they have requested a two-year timeline for integration (clearly a stalling tactic). They have also put forward additional demands—control over energy resources, territorial governance, and block entry into the Syrian military. To push these demands, they are using the Daesh threat as blackmail.


Ahmad al-Sharaa is set to meet President Erdoğan in Ankara today, where these issues will undoubtedly be discussed in detail.


Terrorist Salaries Also Cut

Since Trump took office, there have been provocations aimed at exaggerating the Daesh threat. The group even carried out an attack in the US, but Trump largely dismissed it.


Last week, an interesting development shed light on Trump’s stance toward Syria, PKK terrorists, and even Daesh.


On January 24, the US government decided to cut foreign aid. By January 27, this decision had impacted the Al-Hol camp—controlled by the PKK and housing captured Daesh terrorists. Despite a 14-day transition period, US organizations coordinating the camp withdrew within a day (as reported by The Economist).


Even the salaries of the terrorists acting as prison guards were funded through these aid programs—and these payments were halted (BBC). The group’s leader, Ferhat Abdi Şahin, admitted: "All support has been cut off. Organizations like USAID and Blumont have ceased operations in the camp."


Is this significant? Absolutely. It indicates that the Trump administration disregarded the Daesh threat as leverage and dismissed the PKK/SDF’s demands. Whether this policy shift will extend to military matters remains to be seen.

#Trump
#Israel
#PKK
#SDF
#terrorists
#Daesh
#Syria
#Camp
#Iran
#Ahmad Sharaa