Öznur Değer

 

WAN - American researcher Meghan Bonette stated that Turkey does not want the Kurds to gain status in Rojava, saying, "If the attacks on Rojava continue, it will have a very negative impact on the Bakur process. The gains for Rojava must be protected. 

 

The attacks launched by HTS gangs on 6 January against the Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiyê neighbourhoods of Aleppo continue in areas under the control of the Rojava Autonomous Administration. Kurds are protesting by taking to the streets. Young people from all parts of Kurdistan have responded to the call for mobilisation against the attacks. 

 

American investigative journalist and Research Director at the Kurdish Peace Research Institute, Meghan Bodette, commented on the attacks on Rojava and the role and mission of the US and Israel in the Middle East. 

 

‘There are two fundamental causes of the war’

 

Stating that the war in Rojava and Syria continues for two fundamental reasons, Meghan Bodette emphasised that the first cause is the problems that have remained unresolved for years and the insistence on maintaining this lack of resolution. Stating that political and fundamental problems form the basis of the Syrian issue, Meghan Bodette said, "Despite the intervention of regional and international powers, the problems of the Syrian people have not been resolved. This situation has resulted in the emergence of a new authoritarian and autocratic regime. The problems that form the basis of the Syrian civil war have not been resolved. The second reason is the interests of regional and international powers. In the Syrian crisis, we have seen all Middle Eastern countries, such as Iran, Turkey, Israel, and Arab states, acting in accordance with their own interests. They prioritised their own interests over resolving the problem and the interests of the people. The same can be said for the US and European countries. These interests are not the interests of the people, but the interests of the states." 

 

‘Trump is thinking about economic interests’

 

Meghan Bodette emphasised that the US seized an opportunity following the collapse of the Syrian regime. Recalling that Syria had been allied with Russia for many years, Meghan Bodette said, "When the US saw Russia's weakness in intervening in Syria, its biggest and most powerful enemy in the Middle East, it turned this into an opportunity and wanted to establish a new regime close to itself. Looking at the new regime established in Syria, we see that it coincided with Trump's arrival in power a year ago. The Trump administration is primarily concerned with economic interests. The US wanted to normalise Syria quickly. Therefore, it did not care who was in Damascus at the time or about solving the people's problems. This became another reason that deepened the crisis."

 

‘Turkey wanted to prevent the Kurds in Rojava from gaining status’

 

Meghan Bodette stated that it had been a difficult and arduous process, emphasising that there were many reasons why agreements had not been reached. Meghan Bodette said that both sides had made mistakes in this regard and referred to the ‘Peace and Democratic Society’ process being carried out in Turkey. Meghan Bodette said, "Turkey feared possible change in the Middle East and the Kurds gaining status. During the 2013-15 resolution process, Turkey also wanted to use the process to prevent the Kurds in Rojava from gaining status. From the very beginning, Turkey did not accept the gains in Rojava and the status of the Kurds. Neither Assad, nor Syria, nor Turkey want the Kurds to gain status in Rojava. The general perspective of the radical Islamist HTS is completely contrary to democracy and freedoms, and they never accept democracy. HTS's perspective is very far from that of the Autonomous Administration. While the Autonomous Administration defends women's and children's rights and all fundamental rights and freedoms, Damascus stands in complete opposition to this. HTS is currently the government of the Syrian state. However, the perspective of the Syrian state has not changed."

 

‘HTS saw that Israel would remain silent in the face of attacks and attacked the Kurds’

 

Meghan Bodette emphasised that HTS wanted to attack its ‘internal enemies’ with the diplomatic successes it had achieved, recalling that it first attacked the Druze and Alevis with several diplomatic successes it had achieved from the US. She said that now, as a result of the diplomatic gains it had made from Israel, it had begun attacking the Kurds: "Damascus and Turkey thought that if they took action against the Kurds, Israel would do something. I think the Kurds also thought that Israel would support them. This perspective was wrong. Israel only acts in its own interests. Israel sees southern Syria as being in its interests, but it does not see northern Syria, where the Kurds live, as being in its interests. This showed that Israel would do nothing beyond a token response to any possible attack by Damascus on the Kurds. The US brought Damascus and Israel together and secured an agreement. As a result of the agreement, everyone now saw that Israel would remain silent in the face of attacks. Once HTS was certain of this, it began attacking the Kurds. At the Paris meeting, everyone acted in accordance with their own interests, and some interests changed. This was reflected on the ground, and the situation on the ground also began to change."

 

Emphasis on Rojhilat

 

Meghan Bodette emphasised that all actors in the Middle East will continue to act in accordance with their interests, stating, "Following Israel's attack on Gaza, Iran's position in the Middle East has weakened considerably. All groups affiliated with Iran have either fallen or become very weak. The economic embargo against Iran continues. This has resulted in the weakening of the state. Other powers, seeing the weakening of one power, begin to act in their own interests and fill the void. Turkey and Israel want to take the place of a weakened Iran in the Middle East. The US under the Trump administration also wants to weaken Iran and change the regime there. That is why the US is currently signalling its intention to attack Iran. There is still a serious possibility of an attack. Currently, all structures in Rojhilat Kurdistan are trying to act together. The people and structures there have power. The Kurds alone cannot change the Iranian government; only all the peoples of Iran together can do that. This is not just the Kurds' responsibility. The Iranian people must prepare themselves for this. If the regime is to change, it must be in favour of the people. Trump could turn Iran into another Venezuela and use the power he gains from within to bring about change in the regime. For this, the parties in Rojhilat Kurdistan must look after their interests correctly and act accordingly."

 

‘Attacks on Rojava negatively impact the Bakur process’

 

Referring to the ‘Peace and Democratic Society’ process initiated by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February 2025, Meghan Bodette stated that the process presents an important opportunity for resolving the Kurdish issue and the Syrian crisis. Recalling the agreement signed between HTS and QSD on 10 March, shortly after the 27 February call, Meghan Bodette said, "Turkey has always wanted to use the process against Rojava. It seems that a faction within the Turkish state that does not want peace has taken control. I do not know whether the process will continue after this stage, but if attacks on Rojava continue, this poses a serious threat to the process."