PKK founder and leader Abdullah Ocalan could make a “historic call” with serious implications for Turkey, Syria and the region in the coming days or weeks. What is being said about the timing, format and content of this message? My latest analysis here.
www.kurdishpeace.org/research/con...

Kurdish Peace Talks in Turkey and Syria: Feb. 24, 2025 -
DEM prepares to go back to Imrali; Syria's National Dialogue Conference opens with Kurdish parties left out.

Today's update: open.substack.com/pub/kurdishp...

Full timeline: www.kurdishpeace.org/research/con...

Peace timeline now up to date! Today's highlight: rather optimistic statements from both Erdogan and the DEM Party. www.kurdishpeace.org/research/con...

Kurdish Peace Talks in Turkey and Syria, Jan. 25, 2025: Sozdar Avesta discusses PKK's historical reasons for taking up arms and Feb. 15th rumors; Erdogan says Turkey will be "completely saved" from the "scourge of terrorism."
www.kurdishpeace.org/research/con...

New KPI resource: A comprehensive timeline of the Kurdish peace talks in Turkey and Syria taking place over the past several months. Updated every day.

www.kurdishpeace.org/research/con...

Washington does not have to abandon Syria's Kurds.
There are options. My colleague @meghanbodette.bsky.social has some concrete suggestions

It does require however, that officials in the Biden admin pause their efforts on linkedin to find jobs

Starting at 9:25, my colleague Aras Yussef at the Kurdish Peace Institute's Qamishlo office explains how Kurdish communities are seeing the fall of Assad and advances by Turkey-backed militias.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

No more stop-gap solutions in northeast Syria. Time to solve the whole problem and make the Kurdish issue a matter of democratic politics on both sides of the border.
www.kurdishpeace.org/research/con...

SDF Commander-in-Chief Gen. Mazlum Abdi says the Coalition is assisting SDF w/ evacuations from Shahba and working to deescalate w/ Turkey over Manbij.

If those efforts can get IDPs safety to NES and well cared for while there, and prevent Turkish/SNA advances, that’s a good sign for stability.

This week's recap is out! Inside, @ingridwoudwijk.bsky.social interviews Suhail al-Ghazi and Shiler Sido.

- Syria offensive updates
- Van gets new trustee
- Erdoğan pressured on Gaza
- Turkey reportedly hosts Israel-Hamas talks
- Domestic and diplomatic wraps
- İstanbul unrolls Uber-ish taxi system

🧵We did the research for this piece, a survey of the DAANES co-chair system, over the summer. It was published before recent events began. On the surface, it isn't about the war. But it has everything to do with the current crisis in north Syria.
www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/mo...

The Women’s House, Manbij, 2021. These courageous women suffered under ISIS, but didn’t give up. They stepped up to lead as soon as SDF & Coalition forces liberated their city. They were so proud of their work educating women on their new rights and organizing to advance them.

My colleague @meghanbodette.bsky.social at the Kurdish Peace Institute explains the danger facing Syrian Kurds

How does the elimination of SDF & Kurdish presence in NE Syria help 🇺🇸 or anyone? These people, have spent years fighting ISIS

We should not abandon them

Today in northern Syria:
▶️ Turkey-backed SNA takes Shahba and Tal Rifaat; SDF and DAANES evacuate
▶️ Turkey-backed SNA obstruct convoys, target fleeing Afrin IDPs
▶️ Status of Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud unclear; HTS has called on YPG/J to withdraw and Kurdish civilians to stay

🚨Turkey-backed SNA militias are launching attacks on SDF-held Shehba and Tel Rifaat. If they are able to advance, a humanitarian catastrophe is imminent.