[Today’s Prayer] Türkiye: “Support upon request” amid clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurds

Türkiye said on the 8th (local time) that it would provide support if requested by the Syrian interim government in relation to the situation in which the Syrian interim government and Kurdish armed groups are clashing.

According to TRT Haber, Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense said in a statement that day, “After casualties occurred due to attacks by terrorist organizations, the Syrian government launched counter-terrorism operations in Aleppo,” adding, “If Syria requests support, Türkiye will provide the necessary assistance.”

The Syrian government forces the previous day declared parts of Aleppo a military zone and banned civilian movement. On the 6th, in this area, four people—soldiers and civilians—were killed by drone strikes and shelling carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds.

Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense said that the Syrian military is still carrying out the SDF countermeasures in Aleppo on its own, but added, “Our country supports the eradication of terrorist organizations for Syria’s unity and territorial integrity in accordance with the ‘one state, one army’ principle,” indicating its willingness for active involvement.

Aleppo in northwestern Syria, which borders Türkiye’s southern border, is an SDF stronghold.

Türkiye has been deeply involved in the Syrian civil war, supporting some rebel groups. In addition, over the past several years it has conducted military operations in Syria and Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist armed group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and Europe.

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In December 2024, as the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad and established an interim government in Syria, it received assistance from pro-Türkiye rebel forces.

As a result, the current Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly the head of HTS, has grown close to Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and is cooperating with him in various fields including security and the economy.

Source: Nate News

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying.” (Acts 9:10–11)

We hear the news that as clashes continue between the Syrian interim government and Kurdish armed groups, Türkiye has stated it will provide support if requested by the Syrian interim government.

As the likelihood increases that the Syrian interim government and Türkiye will cooperate to prevent the independence of the Kurds, the world’s largest ethnic minority, and as the future of the Kurds becomes uncertain, may the Lord meet the Kurdish people and attach helpers like Ananias to them.

Even on Syrian soil, where discrimination and massacres against the Kurds are carried out under the pretext of eradicating terrorist organizations, may the Syrian church chosen and called by the Lord strip away the nationalism that blinds the eyes of the Kurds, proclaim Jesus who grants salvation through the cross, and lead them to become a Kurdish people who belong to the Kingdom of God.

May Jesus, who turned Saul into Paul in Damascus, the capital of Syria, also come to Aleppo, change the destiny of the Kurds, and transform them into those who stake their lives on saving people through the gospel.

Concerning the ambition of the Turkish government to suppress the Kurds at home and exert influence over other Middle Eastern countries abroad through Kurdish eradication operations outside Türkiye, may the global church raise its voice and strive so that reconciliation and unity between Türkiye and the Kurds may be achieved.

May they become brothers through the love of the cross without discrimination in Jesus Christ, and may there be grace for Syria, the Kurds, and Türkiye to be restored with the hope of the eternal Kingdom of God.

And thus, may young people with the heart of Paul arise in Syria, among the Kurds, and in Türkiye, and may You pour out the apostolic spirituality that does not even regard life as precious, so that they may take the nations!