“Jacobin is a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture.” As such, what it says must be taken with considerable reserve. But there is evidence beyond this of Erdogan’s expansionist goals; this interview just confirms what those who have been watching him already knew.
“‘Erdoğan Wants to Bring All of Syria Under Turkish Control,'” An interview with Îlham Ehmed by Justus Johannsen, Jacobin, December 20, 2024:
On December 8, Bashar al-Assad boarded a plane to Moscow. His flight marked the end of the Syrian Ba’ath Party and the end of over half a century of rule by the Assad family, who governed the country through torture and intense police surveillance. Since then, many Syrians have been searching for their abducted relatives, and mass graves have been found all over the country. It is estimated that 100,000 people have been arrested and tortured since 2013 alone; over 150,000 are still missing. There is great joy at the end of the Assad regime, but this is also mixed with fear for the future. The country’s new rulers, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have their roots in ISIS (the so-called Islamic State) and the Al-Nusra Front. Many other groups fear that oppression and repression will now continue under a new flag. These fears are particularly strong in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES).
A Kurdish-led, quasi-autonomous region, DAANES covers around a third of Syria’s territory and is still not officially recognized by anyone. It has advanced a unique democratic project and push for gender equality, and all positions in its autonomous administration are filled equally by men and women. But it also faces major challenges, in particular the war that Turkey has been waging against it for some years. Turkey launched its first military offensive on the ground in 2016 and has occupied the Afrîn region since 2018, as well as Serê Kaniyê and Girê Spî since 2018. Assad’s downfall has given new impetus to Turkey and the mercenaries it supports. There is currently even a threat of an attack on Kobanê, the city that more than any other symbolizes the fight against ISIS.
Îlham Ehmed is one of DAANES’s two representatives for foreign relations. Ehmed herself is Kurdish and was born in Afrîn. She has been campaigning for a democratic and pluralistic system in the region since 1990. Today she represents the self-administration on an international level and is a key figure for post-Assad Syria. In an interview with Justus Johannsen for Jacobin.de, she explains how the fall of Assad will affect the autonomous administration’s future….
Îlham Ehmed: Turkey used the developments in Syria to employ Islamist mercenaries under its control to attack the Til Rifat region, where tens of thousands of refugees from the Afrîn region, which has been occupied since 2018, are living. This led to the displacement of around 150,000 people, who were forced to flee to the self-governing areas east of the Euphrates. As a result, Turkey also attacked the city of Manbij with its mercenary Syrian National Army [SNA]. However, a cease-fire agreement, which provided for the withdrawal of all military units and the establishment of a civilian administration in Manbij, was broken by Turkey and has still not been implemented.
Kurds in particular, who make up around 30 percent of the population of Manbij, and those who were actively involved in the autonomous administration, were forced to flee as they were exposed to attacks by Turkish-sponsored mercenaries. There was looting, displacement, and war crimes. The attack on Manbij was not aimed at liberating the city from the Assad regime but was directed against the majority-Arab Manbij Military Council, which is part of the DAANES. This military council has been protecting the city from attacks by Turkey since its liberation from so-called Islamic State.
Justus Johannsen: What is Turkey’s goal in Syria?
Îlham Ehmed: The Turkish state’s goal is to bring the whole of Syria under its control. It is already presenting itself as the one in charge of Syria and giving instructions on what to do and what not to do. Turkey is now planning to use its Islamist mercenaries to conquer the remaining areas by force. As a NATO member, Turkey is acting in the region in accordance with NATO strategy. Although the US has attempted to resolve the conflict through dialogue, it is clear that Turkey rejects dialogue and is committed to war. It is therefore urgently necessary to take a clear stance against Turkey’s occupation policy and destabilization of the region….
Lindum says
Let Muslims get on with killing each other.
It’s not our business, and if we get involved we get blamed.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Largely agree. Only thing: I’d like both the US and Israel to keep supplying the Kurds, so that they can bleed Turkey dry, much like the Afghan mujahids did to the Soviets during the ’80s
But yeah, no military intervention like we did in Libya
Tony says
Muslims want to revive the Islamic Caliphate or Empire against all Non-Muslims to gain ultimate power and control. Allah, the source influencer, in Quran 9:111 says, “Surely Allah has purchased from the believers[Muslims] their souls and their money so that they may have the garden[Heavenly Paradise]. They engage in war for the sake of Allah, so they k i l l and are k i l led…”. Allah, the murderer, in Qur’an 8:12 says, “When your lord revealed to the angels: ‘I am with you so make firm those who believed[Muslims]. I will cast a terror into the hearts of those who became infidels[Non-Muslims]. So strike above their necks(decapitation), and strike off(chop off) every finger from them.’” Allah, the terrorist, in Qur’an 49:15 says, “Surely the believers are only those who believed in Allah and his messenger. They do not doubt, and they performed jihad with their MONEY AND THEIR LIVES for the sake of Allah. Those are the truthful.” Allah, the seditionist, in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…”
Ronald Arthur Dewhirst says
Hi Tony, happy new year.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
That’s an understatement. Turkey doesn’t just want all of Syria: they’d at least want Iraq as well – at least its sunni parts. Then all of Kurdistan would fall under Turkish control (except the Iranian part, which wouldn’t be a part of greater Kurdistan since their language is different)
abu taleb says
Muslims occupying other muslims’ territory is not considered as occupying because they are muslims. Even occupying non muslims’ territory is also not occupying.
Only if non muslims are ruling then it is occupying, doesn’t matter if its people are not muslims.
That is Islam 101
Brenrod says
To contain Turkish expansion the Kurds should be supported by USA and Israel. Turkey should be cast out of NATO, it’s a fake ally.
James Lincoln says
NATO needs to somehow amend its bylaws so that rogue members – like Turkey – can be thrown out.