“Terror-Free Türkiye”: Campaign highlights Syria and Iraq

The Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications aims to strengthen public support for a “Terror-Free Türkiye” through its “United in a Shared Future” campaign and connect that goal with a regional approach to security. A Memurlar.Net analysis examines the campaign through social cohesion in Türkiye and the integration of armed groups into state institutions in Syria and Iraq. Turning security into lasting peace and shared prosperity is the central aim of the approach outlined.

Key goals and reported developments

The campaign brings together the goals of a “Terror-Free Türkiye” and a “Terror-Free Region.”
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran links security, social cohesion and development.
Memurlar.Net reports on developments involving the integration of the SDF in Syria and armed groups based in Sinjar, Iraq.
Workshops and partnerships with universities are planned through the Directorate of Communications’ 17 regional offices.

From security to social cohesion

According to the Memurlar.Net analysis, Burhanettin Duran described “Terror-Free Türkiye” at the campaign launch as a vision for the future that goes beyond ending terrorism. In the framework Duran outlined, security is intended to lead to peace, peace to social cohesion, and social cohesion to shared prosperity and development.

This approach includes public communication and political will alongside military measures. The campaign’s stated purpose is to connect the security agenda with a shared future for different sections of society. Social cohesion and prosperity are therefore presented as goals to pursue, not as outcomes already achieved.

The report says Ankara considers regional security alongside the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring countries. Developments in Syria and Iraq are used to explain the regional dimension of this approach.

What steps are reported in Syria and Sinjar?

According to Memurlar.Net, the integration process that began in Syria in 2025 advanced in 2026 towards bringing military, administrative and security structures into state institutions. The report says SDF leader Mazlum Abdi announced on 25 August that the organisation’s mission as an independent military force had ended and its forces had been integrated into the Syrian army.

This account is based on agreements reached between the Damascus authorities and the SDF. The statement about the SDF’s military status appears in the report as an announcement attributed to Abdi.

The section on Iraq focuses on Sinjar. The report says steps have been taken to end the independent armed structure of the YBŞ, which it describes as linked to the PKK, integrate its members into Iraqi security institutions and bring its weapons under state authority. Transfers of military positions that began in October are also described as a stage in this process.

According to the same report, a joint statement by Türkiye and Iraq dated 8 November reaffirmed their commitment to establishing full state authority in Sinjar and ending the presence of PKK elements. They also agreed to activate the Joint Security Coordination Committee. That decision does not mean the committee has completed its work or that all the objectives in Sinjar have been achieved.

What does the campaign envisage for the public?

The campaign’s concrete public engagement plans consist of workshops organised through the Directorate of Communications’ 17 regional offices and partnerships with universities. The report says these activities are intended to hear directly about the expectations and concerns of different sections of society. Alongside the security goal, a public dialogue is therefore planned to address people’s concerns and priorities.

Duran’s remarks also include a call for vigilance against disinformation from unknown sources. This warning indicates that the campaign focuses not only on security developments on the ground but also on the quality of information reaching the public about them.

The Memurlar.Net analysis lists energy, trade, tourism, production and employment among the areas that could benefit from stronger security. These are not announced investment or employment results; they are economic expectations contingent on ending terrorism and establishing security.

Frequently asked questions

Which institution launched the “United in a Shared Future” campaign?

The Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications launched the campaign. Its stated aim is to strengthen public support for a “Terror-Free Türkiye” and connect it with the vision of a “Terror-Free Region.”

What mechanism was agreed in the joint statement by Türkiye and Iraq?

According to the joint statement dated 8 November, as reported by Memurlar.Net, the two countries agreed to activate the Joint Security Coordination Committee.