Who are the Kurds?

A breakdown of the situation in Northern Syria 

By Catalina Grimm

What’s happening in the Middle East? As of Wednesday, October 9th, Turkey started bombing Northern Syria, territory predominantly controlled by Kurdish led militias, in efforts to clear a “safe zone” to relocate the Syrian Refugees within its borders. This happened after a phone call President Trump had with President Erdogan of Turkey which resulted in the United States pulling nearly 1,000 troops from the Turkish/Syrian border. 

Who are the Kurds? The Kurds were present in the Middle East before it bore that title. Indigenous peoples deriving from Mesopotamia, the Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East. While they don’t have a country of their own, they are a prominent presence in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Armenia and Turkey. Depending on the country they reside in, the Kurds have had varying levels of autonomy as they are recognized by many throughout the Middle East as their own distinct population. 

What role have the Kurds recently played in the Middle East? During the height of the Islamic State’s regime in the Middle East, the Kurds were a key player in leading offensives and holding down front lines. They’ve been a crucial U.S. ally not only in the battle against ISIS, but also in the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. It was a Kurdish offensive that dismantled the last jihaidist pocket in Northern Syria and since the decline of the Islamic State, they’ve been key players in keeping ISIS under wraps. Most importantly, perhaps, has been their role in guarding prisons that have held thousands of Islamic State members and friends, family members, and other affiliates of the terrorist organization. 

 Why does Turkey care? After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the redrawing of country lines in the Sevres Treaty included a separate Kurdish state. However, when the Treaty of Lausanne was implemented three years later, a Kurdish state was not included. The borders of Turkey were set and the Kurds remained stateless. Despite being minorities in each of the five countries they inhibit, they make up the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East. Regardless of nation, the Kurds have faced substantial discrimation and harsh rule by the governments they live under, who each respectively recognize that if the Kurds were able to mobilize, they would be a force to be reckoned with if they chose to pursue a state of their own. 

Turkey knows this, and as a result, has made sure the Kurds never get that chance. As a result of some Kurdish Extremists from Northern Syria carrying out attacks in Turkey, they’ve also been labeled as terrorists. Turkey recently proposed a plan that would create a zone in Northern Syria to relocate the Syrian refugees within its borders. This zone just so happens to overlap the territory the Kurds reside in, and with the removal of the U.S., there has been no one to stop Turkey from riding the area of the perceived threat. 

What is Syria doing in response? In response to the bombing on its northern border, the Syrian government has reached out to the Kurds to form a momentary alliance. While Syria doesn’t have a good reputation in its treatment of the Kurds, it has left them undisturbed in the last few years as the rest of the nation slid into a civil war. While the Kurds don’t want to negotiate with any government that’s had a history of oppressing their populations, the situation came down to a choice between the lesser of two evils in the race to preserve and protect their people. 

Why does it matter what the U.S. did? The U.S. decision to pull troops from Northern Syria matters for a couple of reasons. Most obvious is the immorality of the situation, abandoning a crucial ally who has shown up time and time again to help the U.S. push its agenda in the Middle East. Without help from the Kurds, it would have been harder and far more costly in time, money, soldiers and resources to topple Hussein and eradicate ISIS. Trump's decision has only increased the tarnishing of U.S. reputation on the global stage. It also brings into question national legitimacy. How is the U.S. to be trusted in alliances? How much does our word as a nation mean? Based off the president’s recent tweets, it’s worth about 140 characters. 

Where are we going from here? On Thursday, October 17, just a little more than a week after Turkey started its bombing campaign, Vice President Mike Pence went to Turkey to talk with Erdogan. After the talks, Erdogan declared a momentary cease fire on Northern Syria for the next five days to give the Kurds time to evacuate the Turkish drawn “safe zone”. U.S. forces are allowed to help facilitate, but after those five days are over, Turkey’s president has stated that bombing will continue until all Kurds are removed from the area.