How both try to advance their joint project of a so called Kurdistan
How both try to advance their joint project of a so called Kurdistan
Concurrent with HTS’s takeover of Damascus and the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israel began to expand its occupation into Syria from the Golan Heights, moving Deeper into the country.
Simultaneously, PKK/YPG is also expanding its area of control, moving closer to Israel. Israel and PKK/YPG’s moves taken together highlights the “Second Israel”, namely the establishment of a “Kurdish state” with the PKK/YPG under the guidance of the US and Israel as pointed out by many Turkish politicians and analysts for years.
We asked two Turkish experts, Fikret Akfırat and İsmet Özçelik, who have been writing on “Second Israel” for years for their views on the latest developments in Syria.
Fikret Akfırat stated the followings:
Who is delighted?
From the developments of about a week and a half, the US is delighted. Israel is delighted. HTS and the “opposition,” and the PKK/YPG are all delighted. Warm messages are coming and going between HTS, PKK/YPG and Israel. Meanwhile, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy -a center of intellectual work for the “Second Israel” and a staunch advocate of Israel in the US- along with numerous other organizations glorify HTS and the “opposition”. They churn out articles about how well HTS’s administration in Idlib and how it has established “authority” in newly captured areas of Aleppo and its surroundings.
Back to pre-Astana conditions
The prevail of HTS and the so-called opposition means a return to pre-2017 conditions. That would render the Astana agreement which was painstakingly built to serve Türkiye’s interest not only in Syria but also its broader region entirely meaningless.
Don’t forget that the Astana process laid the ground for operations of Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring of the Turkish Armed Forces which thwarted the US’s attempts to establish a “Second Israel” or a “terror corridor” reaching the Mediterranean. Rolling back to a pre-Astana jeopardizes these hard-won gains. To underline once more: if Syria’s central government collapses, chaos will ensue, igniting sectarian and ethnic strife.
CIA and Mossad
HTS and other “opposition” groups lack the capacity to govern even the areas they have captured. These regions are run by mercenaries under CIA-MOSSAD influence, supported by external arms, ammunition, funds, and food supplies. Their mission is not to govern but to wage a war of attrition, weakening the Syrian state and setting the stage for its collapse.
The same applies to the so-called Syrian National Army and the Syrian Interim Government, both backed by Ankara. These entities, cobbled together from disparate factions whose primary focus in their limited territories is looting and extortion, are neither “national” nor “army”. Moreover, many groups here are more accessible to CIA and MOSSAD influence than to Türkiye.
The biggest winners
The HTS and the so-called opposition’s capture of Damascus serves one goal: paving the way for the Second Israel. Remember that in the early days of the civil war in 2011, when bigot terrorist groups first captured some areas along Türkiye’s border, only for these to later fall into the hands of the PKK/YPG. Today, we are witnessing a similar pattern. The weakening of the Syrian Army has emboldened the PKK/YPG enabling them to expand area of control. With explicit support from the US and Israel, one doesn’t need to be an “expert” to see that the PKK/YPG will not stop here.
Over the past days and weeks, the biggest winners in Syria have been the US, Israel, and the PKK/YPG. This is not just Syria’s problem, but also Türkiye, Russia and Iran’s.
In sum, the partitioning of Syria would mark a significant gain for the Atlantic bloc. Reversing this course through military and diplomatic maneuvers is not only critical for Türkiye but also vital for Astana partners and the broader developing world.
Ismet Özçelik shared his views as follows:
Let me go a bit back to answer your question. Israel failed in Lebanon; it could not defeat Hezbollah. Israel’s intention was to “secure” its northern border, but now the whole of Israel is insecure. It signed a ceasefire and withdrew from Lebanon.
PKK/YPG advances towards Israel
Just after that, an US-Israel plan began to be put into practice. They directed HTS to attack Aleppo. Every available means, including electronic warfare, was provided. Aleppo fell, and they started moving south. After Aleppo, they captured Hama, Homs and Damascus. During this process, HTS didn’t engage in any conflict with PKK/YPG. Simultaneously, PKK/PYD began to advance towards Israel. They faced resistance in some areas, but US fighter jets quickly came to help. Now, they are approaching the Israeli border and the territories occupied by Israel.
The areas under PKK/YPG’s control are economically the most valuable. PKK/PYD took over Deir ez-Zor and is advancing westward. Its goal is the oil and gas fields west of the Euphrates. Its final target is the Golan Heights and linking “Kurdistan”, the “Second Israel” with Israel. These are flat areas allowing rapid progress.
Oil and gas corridor
Once the “corridor” between Israel and PKK/YPG is completed, Syria’s oil will flow to Israel, reaching the Mediterranean. This ensures the financial support for a puppet “Kurdistan” state and meets Israel’s needs. The remaining oil will be sold to Europe. If the PKK/PYD region and northern Iraq can be linked, the oil and gas of the area will pass through here as well.
Actually, the US-Israel sought to create “corridor” along the Türkiye-Syria border first. However, the Turkish Army stood firm, cutting off the terror corridor. Now, they are trying a different way.
“Kurdish state” and “Israel’s security”
Israeli public diplomacy expert David Hermelin commented on the recent developments saying, “Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is almost the only leader recognizing the Kurdish desire for independence. Now, the conditions are ripe, and the time has come”.
Hermelin also made the following assessment on “Kurdish state and Israel’s security”: “An Israel-Kurdish alliance will be a strategic tool for both security and diplomacy. A deepening partnership with Israel would provide significant benefits for both sides”.
Israel’s new Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also spoke openly in his inaugural speech: “The Kurds are divided among four countries. The Kurdish people are among the largest nations without political independence. They are our natural allies. They must gain political independence. The Kurds are victims of the pressure and aggression of Iran and Türkiye. They have autonomy in Iraq and in Syria they are de facto autonomous. We need to strengthen our ties with the Kurds, both politically and in terms of security”.
Netanyahu holds a similar stance. In 2017, he had stated to US Congress members, “Israel should support the Kurdish aspiration for independence”.