Turkey urges Kurdish forces to abandon 'separatist agenda' after Syria deal

AL-Monitor
Oct 8, 2025
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivers his speech during a press conference during an official visit in Tirana, Albania, January 29, 2024. REUTERS/Florion Goga
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivers his speech during a press conference during an official visit in Tirana, Albania, January 29, 2024. REUTERS/Florion Goga — FLORION GOGA

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) must abandon its "separatist agenda", a day after the group's leader and Syria's government announced a ceasefire.

At a press conference in Ankara alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Fidan said the Syrian leadership could now fight Islamic State on its own in the country, meaning foreign states must change their approach on the matter.

Syria'a defence minister and SDF's commander said on Tuesday they had agreed a comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts in northern and northeastern Syria.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; writing by Jonathan Spicer; editing by Mark Heinrich)