Iran Reportedly Supplies Drones to Kurdish YPG/PKK Group, Angering Turkey

Iran has reportedly agreed to supply 1,500 suicide drones to the Kurdish YPG/PKK group in Syria in response to ongoing military operations by Turkey, according to a report from the conservative Turkish newspaper Yeni Şafak. The PKK, a left-wing militia fighting for Kurdish independence in northeastern Syria, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey, is considered a "terrorist" organization by Turkey.

The YPG, another Kurdish militia group based in Syria and allied with the US, has been fighting for greater autonomy in northern Syria. Both the YPG and PKK are often viewed as interconnected factions. Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), has long targeted these groups in its military operations.

According to the report, the Kurdish factions requested 2,000 drones from Iran during a meeting held in Iraq, but Iran confirmed that it could provide 1,500 drones instead. Despite this apparent agreement, the drones’ delivery has been delayed due to Turkey's close monitoring of the situation and threats to intercept any shipments into Syria.

As a result, the YPG/PKK is reportedly exploring alternative methods of transporting the drones in separate parts to avoid detection, although it is unclear how successful this strategy will be, given Turkey’s ongoing operations along the border.

The situation has raised broader concerns about the potential for instability in the region, particularly as the resurgence of ISIS in Syria has been reported. Analyst Abdul Rahman has warned that the return of ISIS near Damascus, for the first time since 2018, could intensify Syria's security challenges, especially in the context of ongoing militia activities and weapon stockpiles.

In addition to these developments, Iran has bolstered its own military capabilities with the delivery of 1,000 new drones, according to the state-run Tasnim news agency. These drones, described as highly stealthy with a range of over 2,000 km, are said to enhance Iran’s military capabilities and provide additional leverage in its tense relations with both Israel and the US.