RIHA – Journalist Nihat Kaya criticized Turkey’s effort to influence Syria through HTS, stating, “Turkey needs to overcome from Kurdish phobia, otherwise it will be completely pushed out of Syrian politics.”

 

Since the fall of the Baath regime on December 8, 2024, Syria remains unstable. The eight-point agreement signed on March 10 between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi and interim Government President Ahmed Al-Shara has stalled. 

 

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) repeatedly accused the interim government of failing to implement the agreement. Subsequent talks in Damascus in June ended without results, and planned negotiations in Paris were postponed due to Damascus’ “enreadiness”. Later, interim government officials announced they would not attend the Paris meetings. 

 

Nihat Kaya, a journalist working in North and East Syria, spoke about the ongoing conflict and potential solutions. 

 

‘DAMASCUS’ APPROACH FAR FROM SOLUTION’

 

Recalling the March 10 agreement, Kaya said the interim government was pressured by massacres in Alevi regions and the weakening of the regime. He added that while the SDF sought to stop these humanitarian atrocities, “forces under the interim government’s control committed massacres similar to those in Shengal, which undermined Damascus’ credibility.”

 

Kaya stressed that Damascus has failed to fulfil the agreement and sent delegations to the Autonomous Administration with demands such as “hand over the dam”, “dissolve the SDF”, and “surrender borders and oil”, none of which were part of the eight-point agreement. Kaya said: “Damascus aims to impose a new dictatorship over the region, which is why the agreement has not been realized.”

 

‘THE REGIME IS STRENGTHENED BY TURKEY’

 

Kaya recalled massacres in coastal and Suwayda regions and accused international silence of empowering the Damascus regime. He emphasized Turkey’s key role, stating: “After Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s meetings, the nature of talks between the SDF and Damascus in Paris changed noticeably. Turkey has a significant influence over this process, reportedly coordinating with Damascus through its embassy and even hosting National Intelligence Service (MIT) agents in a building near the Colani government offices, controlling decisions.”

 

‘TURKEY IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE TALKS’

 

Kaya highlighted Turkey’s exclusion from Paris talks as a sign it is being sidelined: “Turkey’s absence at the Paris meetings deeply disturbed Ankara, prompting inverventions.” Pointing to shifting global dynamics, Kaya added: “Turkey calls Mazloum Abdi and the SDF terrorists, but the international community continues to engage with them. Turkey must recognize that old narratives no longer work. It still clings to past policies, unable to overcome Kurdish phobia. After initially backing the Syrian National Army, Turkey has now turned to HTS, whose future is uncertain due to internal conflicts.”

 

‘A PROLONGED PROCESS WILL HARM SYRIA’S FUTURE’

 

Kaya warned that a drawn-out process would worsen Syria’s situation. Kaya concluded: “HTS and the Colani government are losing control, causing international support to dwindle. Other powers aim to shift control away from HTS and Turkey toward Saudi Arabia and others, effectively sidelining Turkey. For Turkey to remain involved in Syrian politics, it must base its policy more on Kurdish relations. Syria’s diverse society demands an inclusive political system, but HTS imposes a despotic, controlling system incompatible with Syria’s demographics. The Autonomous Administration held a conference with various tribes across Syria showing support, which HTS used as a pretext to withdraw from Paris talks, seeing the Administration as a threat. HTS’s failure to manage this process prolongs the conflict and will likely lead to new political formations in Syria.”