Eurasia Press & News
Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has called for a ceasefire and an eventual end to the armed struggle.[1] Mazloum Abdi, the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), welcomed Öcalan’s appeal, viewing it as a crucial opportunity for peace. Abdi stated that the initiative provides a historic chance to end the decades-long conflict and could foster constructive relations across the region. He emphasized that if peace is achieved in Turkey, there would be no justification for Ankara’s continued attacks on the SDF in Syria.
Speaking at a panel via video conference in Washington, Abdi described Öcalan’s message as a positive development, adding that if implemented, it would strengthen democracy in Turkey and foster stability in Syria. He noted that a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK would play a “positive role” in the region, though he clarified that the SDF is not involved in the process.
Turkey Has Continued Its Military Operations Against The PKK In Iraqi Kurdistan While Escalating Attacks On The SDF
Salih Muslim, a senior leader of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), echoed this sentiment, asserting that there would be no need for weapons if attacks on North and East Syria ceased. He emphasized that their armed resistance stems from the necessity of self-defense. Muslim pointed out that Öcalan’s appeal aligns with previous expectations, as the Kurdish armed struggle has historically been a response to the need to defend their rights. “If protection is provided to the community and people are allowed to organize themselves freely, there would no longer be a need for weapons,” he said.
The Kurdish National Council (ENKS), a rival of the PYD, also acknowledged the significance of Öcalan’s call for peace, urging Turkey to engage in “serious dialogue” for a just resolution to the Kurdish issue. ENKS stated that this step represents a genuine opportunity to transition toward political solutions and peaceful negotiations.
Among the broader Syrian Kurdish population, Öcalan’s ceasefire call was widely welcomed. His influence in Syrian Kurdistan is profound, as he lived in Syria for many years and built strong ties with the Kurdish community. He is not just a politician but a historical and political figure, with an enduring impact on Kurdish military, political, and social life. Nearly every Kurdish household in Syria has his photo displayed – a testament to the deep connection people feel toward him. His ideas and leadership have shaped political and social life in the region, with his ideology playing a central role in the governance model of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). His appeal for peace resonated deeply, with many Kurds in Syria celebrating his message as a historic moment.
The call to lay down arms was not only a political statement but also a reflection of the aspirations of a people who have long sought stability and an end to conflict. In recent years, even Arab and Christian communities in North and East Syria have been significantly influenced by Öcalan’s ideas, particularly through the power-sharing model of AANES, which is heavily shaped by his political philosophy.
However, despite Öcalan’s ceasefire initiative and the PKK’s willingness to comply, Turkey has continued its military operations against the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan while simultaneously escalating attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria. On the weekend, the PKK also reported that the Turkish army had continued its attacks on its forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, despite the PKK’s announcement of a ceasefire. Turkey’s actions seem to indicate that Erdoğan’s government is not interested in peace but in suppressing any Kurdish national demands. Just as Öcalan’s call for dialogue was met with widespread support among Syrian Kurds, Turkey responded with renewed aggression. Turkish airstrikes and military operations against PKK positions persist in Iraqi Kurdistan, while in Syria, Turkish forces and their proxies have escalated their attacks, launching airstrikes, drone operations, and artillery bombardments on SDF-controlled areas.
Ongoing Attacks Underscore Turkey’s Complete Disregard For The Ceasefire Initiative
The SDF has reported a significant increase in Turkish military activity, particularly in the vicinity of the Tishreen Dam and Qaraqozaq Bridge. “Turkish-backed mercenaries launched coordinated ground assaults on SDF positions, but the SDF successfully repelled these attacks, inflicting substantial losses on the attackers. In Deir Hafer, Turkish Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) supported an assault by Turkish-backed groups, but the SDF managed to push them back. Clashes near the Tishreen Dam resulted in the elimination of two mercenaries, while further fighting on Qaraqozaq Hill led to additional casualties among Turkish-backed forces,” the SDF said in a statement.
Erdoğan himself made Turkey’s stance clear in a recent speech.[2] While he superficially emphasized the importance of “dialogue, respect, and compromise,” he immediately followed this by vowing to continue military operations “until the last terrorist is eliminated.” He warned that if Turkey’s demands were not met, Ankara would escalate its military campaigns. “If promises made to us are not kept, if efforts are made to stall or deceive us with superficial changes, we will not be responsible for the consequences,” he said, making it clear that Turkey sees no room for peace unless the Kurdish movement is completely dismantled.
These ongoing attacks underscore Turkey’s complete disregard for the ceasefire initiative. Despite Öcalan’s call for peace and the PKK’s immediate announcement demonstrating willingness to comply, Ankara has not only rejected the proposal but has intensified its military campaigns in both Iraq and Syria. For Syrian Kurds, this reality dampens hopes for stability, as Turkish aggression continues to threaten their security even in the wake of a renewed push for peace.
Ankara Views Kurds As “Terrorists” Who Have No Right To Exist
Öcalan’s announcement and its impact on Syrian Kurds reveal a strong hope among the region’s population that his appeal could mark the beginning of improved relations with Turkey. While Syrian Kurds, along with their political and military leadership, deeply respect Öcalan as one of their national leaders, they have also made it clear that they are a distinct entity from the PKK and determine their own future. They seek peaceful relations with their neighbors, particularly Turkey. However, by falsely equating the SDF with the PKK, Turkey has used this narrative as a tactic to criminalize Syrian Kurds and pressure the U.S. and Europe to sever their ties with the SDF. The U.S. and other European countries in the coalition against ISIS have been working with the SDF for years, and they know well that Syrian Kurds are free of external powers and that the political system on the ground is based on power-sharing with non-Kurdish components and the military strength of the SDF.
Syrian Kurds simply want to have a decent life in their ancestral lands and maintain good relations with Turkey. However, Ankara sees Kurds as a threat and, for decades, has committed severe atrocities against its 30 million Kurds in Turkey under the privileges of NATO cover – and now wants to do the same in Syria.
What Ankara did in Afrin and other Kurdish regions is well known and documented by human rights groups. For example, as part of demographic engineering, the Kurdish language was banned, people were forced to leave their villages, Yazidi Kurds were subjected to forced conversion, their sacred shrines were destroyed, properties – and especially olive groves – were confiscated, and the natural environment of Afrin was devastated.
Turkey wants to destroy Syrian Kurdistan because it sees Kurds as a threat, not as a distinctive people with their own identity, language, and history, who have lived in this land for thousands of years. Rather, Ankara views Kurds as “terrorists” who have no right to exist unless they assimilate into Turkish identity, while continuing to threaten Kurds in Syria and elsewhere. However, Syrian Kurds are determined to continue their struggle for recognition of their national identity, for official recognition of the Kurdish language, and for a fair share in a federative Syria where all of the country’s ethnic and religious richness is fairly represented.
This is despite Turkey’s hostility and animosity toward them, and despite Al-Jolani, who is supported by Ankara, repeatedly excluding Kurds and other minorities from decision-making processes in Damascus.
The Kurdish Question Is A Global Issue That Cannot Be Left At The Mercy Of Turkey
While some are anxiously waiting for Turkey to take a step in response to Öcalan’s initiative, critics argue that the Kurdish question is a global issue that cannot be left at the mercy of Turkey. They point out that the U.S. and other Western powers stopped Erdoğan from carrying out a destructive ground operation against Kobani and the rest of Rojava. Additionally, they emphasize that Israel has been outspoken in defending the rights of Syrian Kurds.
Recently, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar once again stressed the importance of protecting the Kurds and other minorities, and Israel’s messages have resonated strongly with the Syrian Kurds.[3] Israel and the West must support the Syrian Kurds even more as they are the main power to keep Syria in balance against Turkey and its proxies under Al-Jolani, which so far has brought nothing good to Syria and rapidly destroyed the optimism that emerged with the collapse of the Assad regime.
[1] See MEMRI Daily Brief No. 731, What Does Öcalan’s Announcement Really Mean?, By Azado Kurdian, February 28, 2025. [2] Dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/iron-fist-cease-fire-ready-in-terror-free-turkiye-initiative, March 2, 2025. [3] Facebook.com/watch/?v=556117113405829, March 2, 2025.
