Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has strongly criticized calls for Israel to support Kurdish groups in Syria, labeling anyone advocating for such intervention as an "enemy" of the Kurdish people. The statement, made by AKP spokesperson Omer Celik on Sunday, comes days after Mazloum Abdi, the chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), expressed openness to accepting Israeli assistance.

“If someone calls on Israel to help protect the Kurds, that person is an enemy of the Kurds,” Celik declared during a press briefing. He emphasized, “We state it clearly… anyone calling for Israel’s intervention or seeking international intervention is pursuing a major provocation and acting as a subcontractor for other projects.”

Celik’s remarks were a direct response to Abdi’s comments last week, in which the SDF leader stated he would not reject Israeli support if offered. Abdi’s statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed willingness to support minority groups in Syria, including the Druze and Kurds, during a speech on Monday.

The AKP spokesperson went further, accusing those advocating for Israeli support of betraying their own people. “Anyone advocating for Israel's support is an enemy of their own people,” Celik asserted, reflecting Turkey’s longstanding opposition to Kurdish autonomy in Syria and its tense relations with Israel.

The controversy follows reports of growing ties between Israel and Kurdish groups in northeastern Syria, a region known as Rojava, which is governed by the SDF. In January, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen reportedly held a phone conversation with a senior Kurdish official in the region. According to sources, the Kurds were given “positive guarantees” by Israel regarding their future, though details of the discussions remain undisclosed.

Turkey views the SDF and its primary component, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), as extensions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union. Ankara has repeatedly launched military operations in northern Syria to curb Kurdish influence, citing national security concerns.

The AKP’s latest statement underscores the deepening geopolitical tensions in the region, as Turkey seeks to counter perceived threats from Kurdish groups and their potential alliances with external powers, including Israel. The developments also highlight the complex dynamics of the Syrian conflict, where regional and international actors continue to vie for influence amid shifting alliances.