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YPG Kurdish People's Protection Units

Syrian government soldiers wave a Syrian flag after climbing atop a statue of a female Kurdish fighter, following the takeover of the town from US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) during an ongoing push against Kurdish-led forces, in Tabqa, eastern Syria, January 18, 2026. (AP Photo/ Omar Albam)
January 18, 2026, 5:53 pm
Kurdish commander urges US to intervene in Syria, says he’d welcome Israeli help
Syrian government forces take country’s largest oil field despite US call to stop advance, as Kurdish-led SDF withdraws from areas it controlled since pushing out ISIS in 2017
By Agencies
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (2nd L) posing for a photograph next to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (L), Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra (2nd R) and Head of Syrian Intelligence Hussein al-Salama during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on August 13, 2025. (HANDOUT / TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY / AFP)
August 14, 2025, 3:56 pm
Turkey to supply Syria with arms, equipment under new military accord
Turkish Defense Ministry source says Ankara will train Syrian army if needed, bemoans lack of compliance by Kurdish-led SDF with March deal to integrate it into Syrian state
By Tuvan Gumrukcu
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Ankara on August 13, 2025. (TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY / AFP)
August 13, 2025, 9:31 pm
Turkey and Syria accuse Israel of fostering chaos in Syria
In meeting, Ankara’s foreign minister says Jerusalem trying to achieve security by undermining neighbors; Damascus top diplomat: Israeli strikes to support Druze a dangerous challenge
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at a human rights-themed event hosted by his Islamist AKP political party in the Turkish capital of Ankara, August 5, 2024. (Screen capture: X/Türkiye Canlı, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
January 15, 2025, 4:08 pm
Israel rebuffs ‘imperialist’ Turkey after Erdogan says it must withdraw from Syria
Turkish leader warns of an ‘unfavorable outcome for everyone’ if IDF troops don’t leave buffer area they entered after fall of Assad regime
By Amy Spiro, ToI Staff and Reuters
Fighters with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) inspect damaged and abandoned military vehicles and equipment at the Qamishli international airport, formerly a joint Syrian-Russian military base, in northeastern Syria's city of Qamishli on December 9, 2024. (Delil souleiman / AFP)
December 22, 2024, 12:07 pm
As Turkey moves in following Assad’s fall, Syria’s Kurds are on the defensive
After rebels sweep to power in Damascus, Syrian Kurdish leader asks Trump to prevent northern incursion by Ankara — which views Kurdish factions as a national security threat
By Orhan Qereman, TOM PERRY and Tuvan Gumrukcu
Members of Turkish Police Special Forces secure the area near the Interior Ministry following a bomb attack in Ankara, on October 1, 2023, leaving two police officers injured. (Adem ALTAN / AFP)
October 2, 2023, 3:22 am
Turkish jets strike Kurds in northern Iraq after Ankara suicide bombing
Defense ministry says 20 sites hit, several people ‘neutralized’ after rebel group claims attack on government building; Erdogan pushes Syria buffer zone plan in parliament speech
By Susan Frazer
Kurdish forces withdraw past Russian forces in an area near the Turkish border with Syria near the town of Amuda, October 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)
June 12, 2023, 2:50 pm
Turkish shelling in north Syria said to kill Russian soldier, wound others
Incident comes a day after violence between US-backed Kurdish fighters and Turkish troops left several Kurds dead
By AP
Mourners carry the bodies of Kurdish victims killed the previous night by Turkish-backed fighters amid Nowruz New Year celebrations in Jindayris in the rebel-held province of Aleppo, during a mass funeral in Jindayris on March 21, 2023. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP)
March 21, 2023, 7:08 pm
Killing of Kurds in northern Syria sparks protests, tensions
Thousands take to streets after four Syrian Kurds killed by Turkish-backed armed group in town of Jinderis as they celebrated Nowruz holiday
By GHAITH ALSAYED
Illustrative: A Blackhawk helicopter lands next to an Apache attack helicopter at a US military base at undisclosed location in Eastern Syria, November 11, 2019. (Darko Bandic/AP)
December 11, 2022, 9:34 pm
US says helicopter raid kills 2 Islamic State officials in Syria
Military says one of those killed was involved in plotting attacks; UK war monitor reports Kurdish forces participated in operation, no civilians hurt
By Agencies
Illustrative: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during their meeting on sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit, in Astana, Kazakhstan, October 13, 2022. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
December 11, 2022, 5:29 pm
In phone call, Erdogan tells Putin to clear Kurdish forces from northern Syria
Turkish president urges his Russian counterpart to implement terms of 2019 agreement that called for a 30-kilometer-deep buffer zone on border
By Agencies
File: People look at a site damaged by Turkish airstrikes that hit an electricity station in the village of Taql Baql, in Hasakeh province, Syria, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad, File)
December 10, 2022, 7:19 pm
What’s at stake as Turkey threatens to escalate conflict with Syrian fighters?
After deadly blast in Istanbul last month, attributed by Turkey to illegal Kurdish groups, specter of incursion raised as Ankara responds with airstrikes against militants in Syria
By Suzan Fraser and Bassam Mroue
Fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) take part in a military parade in the US-protected Al-Omar oil field in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on March 23, 2021, marking the second annual anniversary of Baghouz's liberation from the Islamic State (IS) group. (Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
November 21, 2022, 3:18 pm
3 killed as Syrian Kurdish militants fire rockets at Turkish border town
Turkey says child and teacher among dead after high school, house and border gate struck; rights group says Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces responsible for attack
By Suzan Fraser
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin following their talks in the Black sea resort of Sochi on October 22, 2019. (Sergei Chirikov/Pool/AFP)
October 26, 2019, 7:16 pm
Erdogan: Turkey will ‘clear terrorists’ from Syria border if Sochi deal fails
Warning comes after Turkish leader reached agreement with Putin for removal of Syrian Kurdish fighters in area; also repeats threat to send refugees to Europe
By AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses an African Muslim Religious Leaders Summit, in Istanbul, October 19, 2019 (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)
October 19, 2019, 6:46 pm
Erdogan vows to ‘crush the heads’ of Kurdish forces if no pullout by deadline
Turkish president threatens Kurdish fighters if they don’t withdraw from planned safe zone by Tuesday evening
By AFP
Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrive at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, as they depart en route to Turkey. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
October 17, 2019, 5:48 am
Pompeo to meet Netanyahu in bid to reassure Israel on Syria pullout
Secretary of state due on Friday after talks in Ankara aimed at achieving ceasefire in Turkish invasion of northern Syria; discussions to also focus on Iran
By ToI Staff and AFP
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