KAFKASSAM: Is Trump’s Stance on the SDF a Move Against Netanyahu?

Trump walked away from the Kurds, leaving them elegantly stranded…

Commenting on developments in Syria, Trump stated:

“We paid the Kurds enormous amounts of money. We gave them oil and other things. They were not working for American interests, but for their own. Right now, we are doing great things with the new government in Syria and the new Syrian president.”

The Americans treat the Kurds like a disposable tissue—used and thrown away. Just as everyone who serves American interests has an expiration date, it has now become clear that Mazloum Abdi and his group have also reached the end of theirs. Trump openly and clearly declared this reality. With this brief statement, Trump once again demonstrated that what truly matters to the United States is not allies or partners, but solely its own interests.

This reality should be carefully noted by the hired Kurdish mercenary groups tied to the United States and the Israeli regime—groups that still lick the boots of Netanyahu, Trump, and their broader Crusader–Zionist entourage, serving merely as expendable pawns. This ignorant and reckless community played a significant role in terrorist actions conducted by the US and the Zionist regime against Iran. In recent days alone, thousands of them were killed, wounded, or captured in direct clashes with Iran’s forces—many of whom will never be heard from again. Reports broadcast from Syria reflect the emotional and strategic shockwaves this development has caused across the region.

1. Trump’s “Cost–Benefit” Oriented Statements

At a press conference on January 20, 2026, Trump reiterated that “massive amounts of money were paid to the Kurds, along with oil and resources.” His emphasis that this support served the SDF’s own interests rather than a genuine alliance is the clearest indication that Washington no longer considers the SDF a priority strategic partner.

2. The SDF’s Decision to Integrate into the Syrian Army

Following mid-January clashes in 2026, a critical ceasefire and integration agreement was reached between the SDF and Syria’s new government in Damascus (under President Ahmed al-Sharaa) on January 18–19:

• Territorial Transfer: The SDF agreed to hand over military and administrative control of key regions such as Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa to the Syrian government.

• Oil Fields: Control of major oil and gas fields—the region’s primary revenue source—will transfer to Damascus.

• Military Status: Mazloum Abdi announced that these terms were accepted to prevent civil war and that SDF forces would be integrated into the Syrian Arab Army.

3. Washington’s New Interlocutor: The Government in Damascus

As the Trump administration loosens ties with the SDF, it has begun direct dialogue with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Trump praised Sharaa as a “hard-working leader,” signaling that the US regional strategy is shifting away from Kurdish proxy forces toward a framework coordinated with central governments and Turkey.

Ultimately, Trump’s “America First” approach—and his desire to minimize or end US military presence in Syria—has pushed the SDF into an agreement with Damascus. The claim that the SDF’s “expiration date has passed” aligns closely with this rapid withdrawal and realignment on the ground.

4. Is the US Moving with Turkey or with the SDF?

The Trump administration answered this question clearly after taking office on January 20—through a strict cost and national interest lens.

• The SDF’s Expiration Date: Trump openly implied that the SDF’s function as an anti-ISIS force has ended. White House officials now argue that the SDF should no longer exist as an autonomous structure but must integrate into the Syrian state.

• Preference for Turkey: Trump highlighted his relationship with President Erdoğan, stating he would soon have a “very important phone call.” The US strategy has shifted from reliance on the PKK’s Syrian branch (SDF/YPG) toward coordination with NATO ally Turkey and Syria’s new leadership.

• A Clear Message: By framing payments to Kurdish groups as a transactional “service fee,” Trump effectively terminated the alliance relationship.

5. Has Netanyahu Been Marginalized?

Netanyahu’s plans to establish buffer zones and a “Kurdish corridor” through Syria increasingly clash with Trump’s “America First” vision:

• Gaza and Syria Councils: Netanyahu’s efforts to exclude Turkey and Qatar from peace mechanisms were rejected by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Washington has accepted Turkey’s role as an unavoidable regional reality.

• Pressure to Withdraw: The US is pressuring Israel to end its presence in Syrian territory and to reach a security arrangement with the new Damascus government.

• Iran Focus: Trump is urging Israel to prioritize containing Iran and normalizing with Syria rather than fragmenting the country—severely disrupting Netanyahu’s southern Syria expansion plans.

KAFKASSAM’s Core Thesis

According to KAFKASSAM and its president Dr. Hasan Oktay, Trump’s posture since January 2026 signals preparations for a “post-Netanyahu” era in the Middle East. Netanyahu has become an obstacle to Trump’s vision of regional calm and trade-driven stability.

Trump’s abandonment of the SDF represents not only the end of a proxy force but also the dismantling of Netanyahu’s conflict-based regional strategy.

Final Assessment

Trump’s message is clear: the era of proxy forces is over. By sidelining the SDF, he has effectively told Netanyahu that his Syrian playbook no longer exists. What follows is a push toward a non-confrontational Israeli leadership—potentially under a Bennett–Gantz alignment—that can adapt to Trump’s regional blueprint.

If KAFKASSAM’s projection proves accurate, a new era will begin—one in which Turkey’s role as a regional agenda-setter is firmly consolidated.

Final Sentence (Key Strategic Claim)

Turkey is the guarantor of survival for both Iran and Israel in the region—yet both states must abandon theocratic modes of thinking.