Blinken and Fidan unite to tackle Daesh threats and Gaza tensions

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Turkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have reaffirmed on Friday the necessity of maintaining pressure to prevent the resurgence of Daesh in Syria, following the fall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime.

During his talks with Turkish leaders, Blinken also underscored the urgency of Palestinian group Hamas agreeing to a Gaza ceasefire. A US official noted that Hamas had shown increased flexibility in ongoing negotiations.

Blinken’s diplomatic mission to the Middle East seeks to forge a consensus among Arab and Turkish allies on principles to guide Syria's political future, emphasising inclusivity and safeguarding minority rights.

On Monday, Blinken expressed concerns about Daesh exploiting the current period to rebuild its capabilities but reaffirmed the United States' commitment to thwarting such efforts.

“Our nations have invested significant effort over years to dismantle Daesh’s territorial caliphate, and it’s imperative to sustain these efforts,” Blinken remarked alongside Fidan in Ankara.

The discussions also delved into tensions in northern Syria, involving clashes between US-supported Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed factions. The SDF is a pivotal ally in the US coalition against Daesh, led by the YPG militia. However, Ankara views the YPG as aligned with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group it has designated as a terrorist organisation and fought for 40 years.

Although both NATO allies supported Syrian rebels during the protracted civil war, their interests diverged over the SDF’s role.

Turkish leaders acknowledged the SDF’s responsibility in securing detention camps holding Daesh fighters and combating Daesh remnants, according to a US official privy to the talks.

Earlier this week, Turkish-backed forces seized the northern city of Manbij from the SDF, which subsequently withdrew east of the Euphrates River.

A Syrian opposition source told Reuters that the US and Turkiye had agreed on the withdrawal. Although neither Blinken nor Fidan explicitly mentioned this agreement, a US official confirmed it was a focal point of discussions.

While the ceasefire in the area has largely held, broader Kurdish-Turkish tensions remain unresolved. Washington continues to monitor developments in the Kurdish-controlled town of Kobani.

After the meeting, Fidan emphasised Turkiye's priority of restoring stability in Syria swiftly while preventing terrorism and curbing the influence of Daesh and the PKK. “We thoroughly discussed our shared concerns, potential actions, and joint solutions,” Fidan stated.

In a later interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV, Fidan reiterated Turkiye’s strategic goal of eliminating the YPG and urged its leaders to exit Syria. He also accused the West of leveraging the PKK to manage Daesh detention camps, alleging that the PKK was using this role to “blackmail” the international community.

Gaza ceasefire

Blinken also prioritised discussions on achieving a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, as the Biden administration intensifies its efforts to broker an elusive agreement. Following his meeting with Turkish officials, Blinken highlighted the need for Hamas to consent to a proposed ceasefire framework.

“We discussed the critical need for Hamas to agree to the ceasefire, which could bring this conflict to an end,” Blinken stated.

He praised Turkiye’s potential influence over Hamas, many of whose leaders had relocated to Istanbul from Doha. A US official confirmed that Hamas had moderated its stance during talks and that Turkiye was actively leveraging its influence to facilitate an agreement.