ByREUTERS
Updated:

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is not acting in line with an accord it signed with Syria's government this year to join the country's state institutions, and the recent clashes between the group and government forces damages Syria's unity, a Turkish Defense Ministry source said on Thursday.

Turkey views the US-backed SDF as a terrorist organization and has repeatedly said it expects the group to abide by the deal to disarm and integrate into the Syrian state apparatus.

"It has not escaped our attention that the SDF terrorist organization's voice has become louder, empowered by the clashes in Syria's south," the source told reporters at a briefing in Ankara, in a reference to the fighting between Druze and Bedouin forces last month.

"The SDF terrorist organization's attacks in the outskirts of Manbij and Aleppo against the Syrian government in recent days damage Syria's political unity and territorial integrity," the person added.

Bedouin fighters stand together, following the Syrian presidency's announcement of a ceasefire after days of violence in Sweida province triggered by clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, in Sweida, Syria, July 19, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/KARAM AL-MASRI)
Bedouin fighters stand together, following the Syrian presidency's announcement of a ceasefire after days of violence in Sweida province triggered by clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, in Sweida, Syria, July 19, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/KARAM AL-MASRI)

Turkey, Syria meet to discuss SDF

This comes as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visits Syria to visit interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and discuss security concerns, mainly with the SDF. 

"The talks are expected to assess Turkey's national security concerns stemming from northeast Syria, as well as cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorist organizations... at a time when preserving Syria's territorial integrity and unity is more important than ever," a source told Reuters.