UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen told Reuters on Monday that escalating tensions between Turkish-backed groups and Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria could lead to “dramatic consequences” if not resolved politically.
Pedersen called for urgent compromises following heightened hostilities that began after Bashar al-Assad’s government fell on December 8. Turkish-backed Syrian groups have captured the city of Manbij and are reportedly preparing an offensive on Kobani, a strategic Kurdish-controlled city on Turkey’s border.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), dominated by the Kurdish Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), have offered to withdraw forces in exchange for a truce. However, Turkey insists the YPG disband entirely, viewing it as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
In recent talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa pledged cooperation to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity. Pedersen warned that the failure to resolve this conflict could lead to further displacement and jeopardize Syria’s broader transition under its new government.
Thousands of Kurdish women staged protests in the region on Monday, denouncing Turkey’s role and demanding protection of their rights. Pedersen emphasized that resolving the standoff is critical to achieving long-term stability in Syria.