Kurdish controlled syria

Syria accuses Kurds of breaking truce in 'dangerous escalation,' tenuous peace deal threatened

The Syrian army said an attack took place as soldiers were securing a captured military base containing explosives, calling it a dangerous escalation.

|ByREUTERS
Soldiers of Syrian government forces stand by on a position 10 km away from the city of Hasakah in northeastern Syria on January 21, 2026.
Around 50 protesters gathered outside the US embassy to protest against what they described as Washington's inaction in the face of the latest massacre in Syria carried out by the Sharaa regime, on January 21, 2026.

Protesters outside US embassy demand US, Israeli action after Kurdish massacre

Several signs pointed to Israel’s close relationship with the Kurdish community. One read “Israel loves Kurdistan,” while others went further, openly calling for military action against the regime.

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Members of the Kurdish Internal Security Forces known as "Asayish", and residents rally during a demonstration against the attacks by the Syrian government forces and in support of Kurdish fighters in Qamishli, the main Kurdish city in the country's northeast on January 18, 2026.

Kurdish commander calls on US to 'intervene forcefully' in Syria clashes

The head of the YPG warned that only the US or its coalition partners can halt Syria’s advance into Kurdish-held territory, as government forces seize key towns and energy sites.

|ByREUTERS, JAMES GENN
A group of civilians carry bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026

CENTCOM urges Syria to cease attacks on SDF, Kurdish forces as clashes escalate

US Central Command has appeared to try to seek to de-escalate tensions. US officials, including envoy Tom Barrack, have also tried to manage the escalating violence.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Germany starts shipping arms to Turkey, could be used against Kurds

The German Green Party also urged a weapons ban for Turkey.

DECEMBER 3, 2019ByBENJAMIN WEINTHAL
Turkish army vehicles and military personnel are stationed near the Turkish-Syrian border in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 12, 2019

Ethnic cleansing is not the answer to the Kurdish question

YET FOR the Kurds, this is all too familiar. They have been facing persecution, ethnic cleansing, and genocide since after World War I, when the contours of the modern Middle East took shape.

NOVEMBER 16, 2019BySIRWAN KAKARASH
KURDISH PESHMERGA troops overlooking ISIS-held territory in September.

U.S. admits Syrian Christians endangered by Turkish invasion of Syria

Armenian Church becomes center of controversy after pictures emerge of it having been vandalized and Turkey claimed to have “repaired” it.

NOVEMBER 11, 2019BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Turkish soldiers stand on top of tanks near the Turkish-Syrian border in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 15, 2019.

Turkey, Russia hold 2nd joint north Syria patrol, near Kobani

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the YPG had not withdrawn from that planned "safe zone," despite Turkey's agreements with both Russia and the United States.

NOVEMBER 5, 2019ByREUTERS
Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters ride on a military truck near the border town of Tel Abyad, Syria, October 12, 2019

The US and the Kurds – from being welcomed to being rejected with stones

Today, history is being repeated against another indigenous population in the same part of the world: the Kurds.

NOVEMBER 4, 2019BySORAN PALANI
Displaced Kurds stuck at a border after a Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria, wait to try cross to the Iraqi side, at the Semalka crossing, next Derik city, Syria, October 21, 2019

Turkish pro-gov media orders Qatar to 'weed out' critical journalists

Editorial says Turkey and Qatar are ‘strategic partners’ and accuses Israel and other countries of ‘ganging up’ on Qatar

NOVEMBER 4, 2019BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Turkish soldiers stand on top of tanks near the Turkish-Syrian border in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 15, 2019

Turkey's Erdogan may call off U.S. trip after Congress votes

Erdogan is due in Washington on Nov. 13 at President Donald Trump's invitation, but said last week that the votes put a "question mark" over the plans.

NOVEMBER 4, 2019ByREUTERS
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump talks to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium in July.

UN open to Turkish plan for northern Syria as 300,000 Kurds forced out

It now appears that NATO, the UN, Russia and other world powers will work to prevent the return of people who fled Turkey’s offensive and to settle others in their place.

NOVEMBER 4, 2019BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Turkish army vehicles and military personnel are stationed near the Turkish-Syrian border in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 12, 2019

Above the Fold: Obligation to support the Kurds

More than an obligation, it’s a commandment.

OCTOBER 29, 2019ByMICAH D. HALPERN
KURDISH AND ARAB protesters chant slogans against Turkish President Tayip Erdogan in Qamishli, Syria, Wednesday.

A symphony of violence in northeast Syria

“The USA has betrayed us. The USA has abandoned us!”

OCTOBER 28, 2019ByANTHONY AVICE DU BUISSON
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a statement on the conflict in Syria with Vice President Mike Pence at his side in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., October 23, 2019