#Syria #Rojava #AANES #DAANES #Kurdistan #YPG #YPJ #FDS #SDF
Weekly Highlights 20.10.25 - 26.10.25
PKK withdraws all fighters from Turkey
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced on Sunday the complete withdrawal of its fighters from Turkish territory, describing this decision a pivotal step toward advancing the ongoing peace process with Ankara into a "second phase."
During a press conference at Mount Qandil, attended by 25 PKK members and senior commanders, the revolutionary party declared, “These monumental steps taken by the Kurdish side, under the guidance of Abdullah Ocalan and the PKK, have significantly influenced Turkey's political and social landscape, fostering a renewed commitment to peace and democratization,”.
The PKK framed the withdrawal as a means to "address serious threats faced by both Turkey and the Kurdish people, while laying the foundation for a free, democratic, and harmonious existence." They reiterated their dedication to the peace process and called on Ankara to reciprocate with corresponding actions.
Observers suggest that the full withdrawal may open up new diplomatic avenues for both Ankara and the Kurdish movement, though skepticism persists, particularly in light of Turkey's ongoing military operations in northern Iraq and Syria.
Renewed clashes between Syrian army and SDF
On Saturday, October 25, clashes broke out between the Syrian army and fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) along the contact lines on both sides of the Euphrates River. The SDF, which attempted to infiltrate a Syrian army position, later claimed that their actions were a response to an attack by unidentified armed groups. Shortly after the fighting began, SDF forces withdrew to their original positions, with no casualties reported.
Minor clashes have continued to occur over the past week at various points along the contact lines between the Ministry of Defense (MoD) forces and the SDF: on Wednesday, armed groups linked to the interim government launched a suicide drone strike on the town of Deir Hafer.
These incidents arise amidst the ongoing integration of SDF into the New Syrian Army.
Syrian transitional government targeting non-integrated foreign fighters
On October 21, the General Security Service (GSS) attempted to raid a compound controlled by the French foreign fighter group "Fiqrat al Ghuraba" and Caucasian fighters near the Turkish border in Harem, Idlib Province. The day after the raids, a group of Uzbek foreign fighters was sent to Fiqrat al Ghuraba’s compound to provide reinforcements. On October 23, the GSS and the foreign fighter groups agreed to a ceasefire.
In the last months, the GSS has carried raids on foreign fighter groups that promote Salafi-jihadist ideologies and have not integrated into the MoD. For instance, in August 2025, the GSS arrested two Uzbek foreign fighters. These fighters had previously served as private military contractors training Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) special forces and participated in the offensive that ousted Assad in December 2024.
Fiqrat al Ghuraba has previously criticized the Syrian transitional government's collaboration with U.S. forces in operations aimed at Salafi-jihadist groups.
Since June 2025, the Syrian government has integrated many loyal jihadist foreign fighters into the Syrian MoD. This integration aligns with a U.S. strategy that permitted the Syrian transitional government to incorporate foreign fighters into the new Syrian army, aiming to deter these fighters from joining Salafi-jihadi groups.
Rising ISIS threat amid US pullout
The Islamic State (ISIS) has been exploiting the diminished U.S. military presence and the political instability following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024. Data from the SDF shows a marked increase in ISIS attacks in 2025, as the group has acquired significant quantities of weapons from former Syrian army depots, thereby strengthening their combat capabilities.
SDF commander Goran Tal Tamr remarked that the U.S. withdrawal acts as “an inspiration for ISIS,” highlighting that the group’s activities have escalated amidst rising concerns among civilians about security.
Turkey's support to the Syrian Ministry of Defense
On October 21, Turkish officials announced that they will supply the Syrian MoD with advanced military equipment in the coming weeks, including armored vehicles, drones, artillery, and air defense systems. The Syrian MoD plans to deploy this Turkish equipment in northern Syria allegedly to mitigate potential conflict with Israel.
Historically, Turkish and Turkish-backed forces have committed atrocities against the Kurdish minority in northern Syria, including acts of ethnic cleansing and other forms of violence. It is likely that Turkey’s increasing influence within the armed forces and other security services will impact negatively the integration of the SDF in the new syrian army.
