As the 'PKK-SDF Parenthesis' closes, let the Iran parenthesis not open!...

The enthusiasm in the pro-government media over the image of the US leaving the PKK/YPG/SDF in the lurch in Syria continues.

The PKK/YPG has been defeated... The US Central Command (CENTCOM), the patron of the PKK, has been defeated... And Israel has been defeated...

Can Coşkun from Korkusuz recalled yesterday the prediction made by Shara in an interview with Independent Türkçe in 2021, while he was the HTS leader Jolani: “The fate of the YPG administration in northeastern Syria depends on the US remaining there. Once the US leaves Syria, the YPG will also be gone.”

Forget the US leaving Syria; hasn't Israel settled in here quite thoroughly?

Since all projects in Syria have been shattered and everything is proceeding in the direction determined by Turkey, let us ask the following:

- Turkey wanted to establish military bases. Will it be able to do so now?

- One of the main goals was to sign a maritime jurisdiction agreement with Syria. On September 8, Minister of Transport Abdülkadir Uraloğlu passed the ball to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, “The Syrians have emerged from a war, but they know how to negotiate well. We must not miss the process. That is why we are following the process.” On December 1, it was reported that “Turkey is making preparations and negotiations are ongoing.” While Israel, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot administration are encircling our country in the Eastern Mediterranean, when will these endless negotiations conclude?

Let us also report what has been possible so far.

Our Embassy in Damascus has been opened... The expansion work for Damascus Airport was given to Kalyon and Cengiz Construction... It was reported that the Air Traffic Control Radar System developed by ASELSAN will be put into operation at Damascus Airport to increase flight safety... Also, according to the statement by the Ministry of National Defense, there is a possibility that the Tomb of Suleyman Shah will be moved back to its former location in Karakozak, provided that “appropriate conditions are met on the ground.”

Has the Greater Middle East Project (BOP) Been Collapsed?

Let us continue with the Syria enthusiasm of the pro-government media.

Some writers described the liquidation of the SDF as a “historic breaking point,” while others claimed, “Erdoğan has succeeded, all calculations have been reset. The ‘era of empires’ has begun.” Some spoke of the “closing of the SDF parenthesis,” while others argued that the Greater Middle East Project (BOP) had collapsed.

What is the biggest target of the BOP before Turkey? Iran. That is why in our article yesterday, we said, “This is Trump; he does not spare the chicken where the lion will come.” Let us elaborate on this.

Before the US-Iran meeting last April, one of the pro-government writers reported that “5 warnings had gone from Turkey to Iran,” and that the first of these was “conveying the US expectations from Iran.” This inevitably brought to mind the messages delivered to Saddam via Kürşat Tüzmen and to Assad via Ahmet Davutoğlu!..

Let us recall the 12-day wars that took place between Israel-US and Iran last June.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, who called on the night Israel attacked, said that the US had no role in this attack. But Trump blurted out, “We targeted nuclear development facilities with a highly precise attack; it was very successful. Our pilots carried out a major operation. Iran's nuclear facilities suffered great destruction... We achieved a beautiful success.” Despite this, after stating that “our region is full of examples that nothing can be achieved through war, destruction, aggression, and threats,” Erdoğan welcomed the “ceasefire achieved through Trump's efforts.”

Let us underline that Israel used Syrian airspace with the permission of the Syrian government during the 12-day wars and come to the Trump-Shara meeting held at the White House on November 10, which Foreign Minister Fidan also attended. In this meeting, in addition to the Palestine-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine files, the US position on Iran nuclear negotiations and what steps should be taken from now on were also evaluated. While Fidan announced that “they exchanged views quite a bit because this issue closely concerns the region,” Trump's colonial governor Tom Barrack announced that “the Damascus administration will take an active role alongside the US against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, and Hezbollah, as well as ISIS,” and said, “In the critical session we held with Rubio, Fidan, and Shaibani, we shaped the next phase of the US-Turkey-Syria framework.”

Let us not forget the praise of Trump's Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for Hakan Fidan and MIT President İbrahim Kalın. While stating that he trusts the expertise of Fidan and Kalın and that consultations are usually conducted through Barrack, Witkoff noted the following:

“I might encounter a problem in Azerbaijan or Armenia, or there might be an issue regarding Ukraine. The gentlemen I mentioned in Turkey are experts on these matters, and the Trump administration encourages me; this is how it works. For example, I call Tom and ask, ‘What does İbrahim think about this?’”

Iran Traffic While the SDF is Being Liquidated

In recent days, the lead actor in the negotiations conducted between Jolani-Shara and Mazloum Kobani was Tom Barrack. Meanwhile, Barrack also met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

When Fidan met with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi twice before and after his meeting with Barrack, even Abdulkadir Selvi wrote the following:

“After Hakan Fidan met with his US counterparts throughout the night, he called Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and held a second meeting. Who or whom did Hakan Fidan meet with in the US? This is a secret. But it is clear that he is carrying out a serious mediation activity... When the US was going to strike Iraq, State Minister Kürşat Tüzmen had taken a letter bearing the signature of Prime Minister Abdullah Gül to Saddam Hussein. However, Saddam Hussein could not take advantage of this opportunity. The result is obvious.”

Let us also convey Barrack's statement regarding his meeting with Fidan; he said, “I thank Minister Fidan for the productive and sincere discussion in Ankara. The US values our strong partnership with Turkey; it remains committed to working together to advance regional stability and address shared challenges, including our ongoing efforts in Syria.”

As is known; with the protest demonstrations that started in Iran, the threats from both Israel and Senator Graham—who was promoted from Trump's sidekick to his spokesperson—reached the point of calling for the assassination of Khamenei. Trump finally made the statement, “help is on the way.” The US virtual embassy in Tehran called on its citizens to leave the country and go to Turkey or Armenia.

Upon this, Reuters announced that Tehran had sent a harsh message to regional countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, stating that if US bases on their soil were used, they would be directly targeted.

In those days, both politicians and the media seemed to focus a bit on Iran. For example, journalist Deniz Zeyrek explained that the US would not ask for permission from Turkey for a possible attack, but that it might request to use Turkey's airspace, some air bases, and military facilities, and that he received information that Ankara would reject such a request and only allow use for humanitarian activities, and then noted the following:

“What happens if Iran carries out such an attack? Turkey would consider the attack as directed directly at itself and would respond.”

How much could Ankara object to Trump imposing a 25 percent tax, saying “do not buy natural gas from Russia,” or kidnapping Venezuelan President Maduro from his bed along with his wife?!

Incirlik and Kürecik: If Not Today, When?

The Iran operation is coming loudly, but neither taking control of Incirlik nor closing Kürecik to Israel's ears is on the government's agenda.

As for MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, a partner of the People's Alliance, who in the 2010s wanted Incirlik's operations to be terminated due to US support for the PKK, and in 2021 wanted Incirlik and Kürecik to be emptied against Israel's Jerusalem plans, but in 2024 accused the opposition, which criticized the government's commercial relations with Israel, of “chewing Kürecik gum”;

At the MHP Group Meeting on January 13, he slammed Israel, the US, and Trump on both the Iran and SDF issues... He said that the political and territorial integrity, internal peace, stability, and climate of tranquility of the neighboring country Iran are a matter of life and death for Turkey, and that the events in Iran must be opposed and rejected in accordance with political, moral, faith, cultural, and neighborly ties... But he did not even mention Incirlik or Kürecik.

There was also no sound from the CHP, which in 2012 tried to enter Kürecik and wanted it closed by saying, “To whom did the AKP, which handed over the command of the radar base to the US, hand over the command of the Parliament? Whatever you do, we will drive the Yanks out of these lands.”

Only Saadet Party Chairman Mahmut Arıkan called for the closure of Kürecik and the establishment of sovereignty in Incirlik. Fatih Erbakan, the son of the late Necmettin Erbakan, the “Teacher” of the AKP members and Chairman of the New Welfare Party, also reminded the following:

“The US is preparing to attack Iran. The attack on Iran is intended to be carried out for the peace and security of Israel and the establishment of a greater Israel; not for human rights, democracy, etc. They tore Iraq apart for Israel too. They laid Syria on the operating table for the same purpose. As our National Vision leader Erbakan Teacher expressed for years, Turkey is next. We say, close the Kürecik Radar Base and the Incirlik American Base before our turn comes. America, which even has its eyes on Greenland under the sovereignty of NATO member Denmark, cannot be a friend to us. We warn you once again: Close the American bases that provide intelligence to the enemy now.”

In short; even a writer for the government newspaper Sabah, while emphasizing that “the most difficult front of the new global design will be Iran,” said, “Turkey, which is on alert, is aware of everything and is making its preparations accordingly. Because after Iran, they will turn to Turkey. The trend shows this.” Well, this is your state of “alert”!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

January 23, 2026