JERUSALEM – Retired four-star General and senior strategic analyst Jack Keane stated on Mark Levin’s “Life, Liberty & Levin” that President-elect Trump holds the key to halting Turkey’s reported attacks on pro-U.S. Syrian Kurds.
Keane described Erdoğan as a significant problem, highlighting his actions in northern Syria. He noted Erdoğan’s support for al-Golani, who deposed Assad, a move initially aligned with U.S. interests. However, Keane emphasized Erdoğan’s current attacks on the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds in eastern Syria.
Keane asserted that President Biden would likely take no action, while President Trump possesses a substantial opportunity to intervene, citing a previous instance where a Trump-Erdoğan phone call successfully resolved a similar conflict.
Keane predicted that one of Trump’s first calls upon entering office would be to Erdoğan, if not already initiated.
He clarified that the Syrian Kurds in eastern Syria aim to maintain ISIS’s defeat and prevent its resurgence, emphasizing that the U.S. only needs to protect its interests and ensure ISIS does not return to eastern Syria.
While global focus rests on Assad’s regime collapse, Turkey’s President Erdoğan has deployed forces to eliminate Kurdish fighters along its southern border in Syria—fighters who aided the U.S. in defeating ISIS.
Alarm is growing regarding Turkey’s actions.
“Turkey has become too aggressive. If they get a free rein in Syria, they may covertly commit an ethnic cleansing,” warned Efrat Aviv, a Turkey expert and professor at Bar-Ilan University, in a statement to Digital.
In a seeming attempt to rebrand his jihadi movement, Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a pivotal role in toppling Assad’s regime, stated, “The Kurds are part of the nation and have suffered great injustices, just as we have. With the regime’s fall, the injustice they faced may also be lifted.”
Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, is allied with Turkey. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed direct U.S. contact with HTS, despite its terrorist designation.
Mazloum Abdi, head of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), urged Kurdish parties in northeast Syria (Rojava) to form a united front.
“Today, Kurdish national unity in Syria has become a historic necessity in response to the challenges of this critical phase. We call on all Kurdish parties to set aside partisan interests and genuinely engage with public calls for dialogue and unity,” Abdi posted on X.
Senator Lindsey Graham called for protecting Syrian Kurds, urging the government to advocate for a halt to Turkish attacks.
The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) responded to ongoing attacks with a statement: “We are facing significant threats and dangers, and we call on the Global Coalition and the entire world to unite with us to protect Kobani.”
“The world now owes Kobani and its fighters, and it is time to stand with Kobani,” the statement continued, “calling on the Global Coalition and freedom-loving individuals to unite and safeguard the region’s dignity and humanity.”
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated in Jordan that Turkey faces threats from Iraq and Syria, accusing the PKK of exploiting Syrian chaos to restructure itself within the SDF. He asserted that Turkey continues to combat PKK/YPG terrorism and aims to differentiate between Syrian Kurds and the PKK/YPG.
He added, “Our aim is to distinguish the Syrian Kurds from the terrorist organization PKK/YPG. We support the legitimate representatives of Syrian Kurds in their efforts to advocate for their rights in Damascus.”
The YPG, a key U.S. ally in defeating ISIS, is classified by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization. The YPG operates under the SDF.
Turkey’s government has intensified its anti-Kurdish rhetoric. Turkish Defense Minister stated, “Our primary agenda is the dissolution of the PKK/YPG.”
Incoming Representative Abraham Hamadeh, whose parents are Syrian immigrants, told Digital, “As we evaluate Turkey’s recent airstrikes on Syrian Kurds and reports of Hamas operatives in Turkey, it’s clear that our alliances must be anchored in mutual respect and shared goals. For decades, Turkey has been a strategic partner, but hosting groups like Hamas without clear steps toward dismantling their operations undermines that relationship. Turkey must seize this opportunity to demonstrate it is committed to fighting terror, not enabling it.”
In response to a question about potential U.S. sanctions on Turkey, a State Department spokesperson stated, “As a general matter, we do not preview sanctions.”
The State Department directed Digital to comments made following Blinken’s meeting with Fidan in Turkey.
The statement emphasized the importance of U.S.-Turkish cooperation in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS mission in Syria.