Iraqi and Turkish Kurds join fighting in Syria, Senator Graham issues ultimatum

ByEditor

Jan 20, 2026

Iraqi and Turkish Kurds join fighting in Syria, Senator Graham issues ultimatum

The Syrian army is launching an offensive on the city of Al-Hasakeh, the capital of the province of the same name, located in the northeast of the country and populated mainly by Kurds. This is contrary to the terms of the agreement concluded on January 18 by the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

On January 19, negotiations between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and the head of the SDF military command, Mazum Shabdi, ended without results. One of their main goals was to prevent escalation. The offensive of Syrian troops continues in the oil and gas rich province of Raqqa.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump, issued a warning to Syrian authorities: “Capturing the city of Raqqa would cross a red line. If the offensive continues, not only will there be crippling sanctions, but it will cause irreversible damage to the United States’ relationship with the new Syrian government.”

Al-Sharaa had a telephone conversation with President Trump. “The heads of state emphasized the importance of preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, the need to ensure the rights and protection of the Kurds within the Syrian state,” SANA reports.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party said it will not abandon its Syrian brothers and will do everything necessary to help them. Many Kurds from Iraq and Turkey crossed the Syrian border to take part in the fighting – despite attempts by Turkish authorities to prevent this.

Syrian authorities have accused the SDF of deliberately releasing Islamic State militants in order to destabilize the situation. “The so-called ‘autonomous administration’ is trying to mislead the international community. We reject attempts at political blackmail through terror,” the statement said.