Syrian Army's 'Terrorist' Reclamation: When a NATO Ally Rebrands Foes for Strategic Gains
📰 THE STORY: Daily Sabah reports that the Syrian army has 'captured' the Karakozak area, including the Süleyman Shah Tomb compound, from what it identifies as 'PKK/YPG-dominated SDF terrorists.' The article presents this as a decisive blow against terrorist elements in the region. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The YPG (People's Protection Units) were the primary ground
force allied with the US-led coalition, including NATO member Turkey for a period, in the fight against ISIS. They spearheaded the liberation of Raqqa in 2017. Turkey, however, views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, a Kurdish militant group that has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since the 1980s. This 'terrorist' designation for the YPG is primarily a Turkish position, not
universally adopted by other NATO members who armed and trained them. Double Standard: The West, including the US, extensively funded and armed the YPG/SDF for years to combat ISIS, effectively labeling them 'allies.' When Turkey, a NATO member, invades northern Syria and attacks these same groups, the Western media often issues mild rebukes, if any, and rarely frames Turkey's actions as
destabilizing or its targets as 'allies.' Contrast this with the immediate and unanimous condemnation if, for instance, Iranian forces or even the actual Syrian government were to engage groups previously supported by Western powers. The 'terrorist' label becomes a convenient tool, applied or removed based on current geopolitical needs rather than consistent ethical or legal standards. Follow the