Status update on Syria and SDF integration with Noah Bonsey

Noah Bonsey (https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/noah-bonsey) , a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group focusing on Syria, joins Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss developments in Syria with a focus on integration efforts regarding the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF. Following a Syrian Army offensive that reclaimed most of the formerly SDF-held territory in northeast Syria, Damascus and the SDF signed a peace agreement in late January to combine forces under the Syria state structure after 14 years of war. This podcast is a status update on how integration efforts are going in the context of escalated regional instability from the US-Israel war on Iran and amid the continued economic hardships faced by Syrian citizens. The talk covers how Damascus-SDF negotiations impact the PKK peace process in Turkey, as well as the current challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the transitional government of Syrian Pres. Ahmed al-Sharaa. Note: This episode was recorded May 25, 2026. Referenced in this talk: Submit a question for our Q&A podcast with this form (https://forms.gle/953tUNACVoZjpyPa7) PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s May 24 public statement (DEM Party (https://www.demparti.org.tr/tr/basina-ve-kamuoyuna/22725/) ) ‘The country is on fire’: Riot police storm CHP headquarters and Bilgi University (Turkey recap (https://www.turkeyrecap.com/p/the-country-is-on-fire-riot-police) ) An Opportunity for Calm in North-eastern Syria (Crisis Group (https://www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-east-north-africa/syria/opportunity-calm-north-eastern-syria) ) Comprehensive Overview of IDPs and IDP Returns 21-5-2026 (UNHCR (https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/122541) ) First Turkey-Iraq transit convoy crosses through Syria (SANA (https://sana.sy/en/syria/2317604/) ) Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@turkeyrecap) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1KzyzWkguHP5t9jPWRChEZ) , Apple Podcasts (http