Syrian Kurds Face Escalating Threats After Assad's Fall

Turkey intensifies pressure on Kurdish militias while Islamist factions consolidate power in post-Assad Syria.

The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8 has left Kurdish factions vulnerable as Turkey and Islamist groups gain influence in the region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that Kurdish militias like the YPG must disarm or face military action, labeling them as terrorist organizations tied to the PKK.
Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) forces have seized key Kurdish-held areas, including Manbij, with support from Islamist insurgents now controlling Damascus.
Kurdish leaders are seeking international support, with Israel urging global powers to protect the Kurds and proposing potential collaboration to stabilize the region.
The U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have launched a counter-offensive to reclaim lost territory, while bipartisan U.S. lawmakers push for sanctions against Turkey's actions.