In Italy, Marco Grimaldi, Vice President of the Greens and Left Alliance Parliamentary Group, spoke out on the recent attacks against Rojava by HTS, ISIS, and Turkey-linked paramilitary groups, as well as the latest agreement between the SDF and the Damascus administration. Grimaldi drew attention to the roles played by the United States and Turkey in the attacks, while noting that multiple actors were involved. “Tom Barrack is a passive accomplice, whereas Turkey has played a direct role in this process," he said.

 

Grimaldi emphasized that HTS’s systematic ceasefire violations aim to undermine the Kurdish democratic experiment and consolidate control over all of Syria, warning that the attacks risk becoming an attempt at ethnic cleansing. Addressing U.S policies on Syria, Grimaldi pointed out that while the U.S claims to support peace, it fails to intervene when it is trampled upon. 

 

He said: “Syrian President al-Sharaa made it clear from the outset that he wanted a strong central state with no recognition of autonomy for the country's numerous cultural, ethnic, and religious groups. Yet, despite his role in HTS, the United States' relationship with him has changed in his favor, and last year he joined the US-led anti-ISIS coalition.” Grimaldi also criticized Tom Barrack for implying that the SDF had “fulfilled its purpose” and that the Syrian government is capable of fighting ISIS on its own. He noted, “This is a reversal of the promise to support forms of autonomy for areas with a Kurdish majority, making him a passive accomplice to the violence.”

 

‘IMMEDIATE SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIA AND TURKEY ARE NEEDED’

 

Grimaldi stated that the attacks carried out by HTS and Turkey against the Kurds amount to war crimes, adding that the silence of international institutions, from the UN to the EU, is scandalous. “They limit themselves to calling for a ceasefire without taking concrete action” he noted. “It is a silence that reveals a desire not to compromise diplomatic relations with Syria and Turkey. Immediate sanctions against the Syrian Transitional Government and Turkey and condemnation by the international community are needed.”

 

Grimaldi said Turkey has played a direct role in attacks on Kurds, using drones and fighter jets, while militias it backs have joined jihadist groups within the Syrian Transitional Government. He added: “Despite the internal peace process, Ankara does not accept the creation of an autonomous Kurdish entity on its border. For this reason, it supports HTS and the Syrian regime, with the aim of preventing the Rojava model from becoming an example of coexistence and democracy. I hope for a wave of international solidarity, as happened for Gaza, in defense of Rojava, the resistance, the population, and those who have truly fought and sacrificed their lives to defend the whole world from the threat of ISIS.”

 

‘KURDISH SECURITY IS NOT A CONCESSION BUT A RIGHT’

 

Grimaldi also commented on the SDF–Damascus agreement, emphasizing, “Kurdish security is not a concession, but a right. After years of war and repression, it is clear that without concrete guarantees, Kurds will remain exposed. The recognition of the Kurdish language is a minimal yet necessary step; it is not enough to make up for decades of denial and forced assimilation. These appointments reveal a fragile balance. The presence of positions directly assigned by Damascus signals that the central authority has no intention of relinquishing control. It is premature to talk about full Kurdish participation in the region’s governance; what we are seeing is rather an unstable compromise. The return of Kurds to their cities is an essential condition. Without this, the agreement risks being perceived as a mere facade. Appointing officials alone is not enough; it is necessary to ensure that communities can rebuild their lives.”

 

‘THE PATH TOWARD RECOGNITION IS STILL LONG’

 

Highlighting that the agreement remains insufficient, Grimaldi remarked, “For centuries, Kurds have been denied, erased from maps and constitutions. This agreement, despite all its limitations, represents a symbolic break from that tradition. But let us not deceive ourselves, the path toward genuine political and cultural recognition is still long and fraught with obstacles. Kurds have gained institutional visibility that they previously lacked. It is an achievement, but a fragile one. Turkey sees every step toward Kurdish autonomy as a direct threat and will continue to apply military and diplomatic pressure. The repercussions could be severe, Ankara will not easily accept the consolidation of a political role for Kurds in the region.”

 

MA / Deniz Karabudak