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Iraqi Kurdish Leader in Damascus for Talks on Syria Kurds' Deal
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Iraqi Kurdish Leader in Damascus for Talks on Syria Kurds' Deal

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Nechirvan Barzani, leader of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, in Damascus.
  • The talks focused on advancing an integration deal between Damascus and Syria's Kurds, including their institutions and forces.
  • The visit aims to strengthen cooperation, particularly economic ties, to support security and stability in the region.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa held talks in Damascus with Nechirvan Barzani, the leader of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. This meeting, the first of its kind since Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December 2024, centered on progressing an integration deal between the Syrian government and Kurdish forces.

strengthening cooperation and coordination, especially economic... in a way that contributes to supporting security and stability

— Sharaa's officeDescribing the objectives of the meeting between the Syrian President and the Iraqi Kurdish leader.

Following clashes in January between Syrian Kurdish fighters and new authorities, a deal was reached to integrate Kurdish institutions and forces into the Syrian state. Barzani had previously met with Mazloum Abdi, chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF), in Erbil during the fighting. The current discussions aim to solidify this agreement.

procedures for integrating the SDF into the state

— Syrian official sourceIndicating a key topic of discussion regarding the integration deal.

According to official sources, the agenda included strengthening cooperation, especially in economic matters, to bolster security and stability. A Syrian official, speaking anonymously, indicated that the integration procedures for the SDF into the state apparatus would be a key topic. Another anonymous diplomatic source suggested the visit would primarily focus on following up on the state-SDF agreement, with a potential meeting between Barzani and Abdi also on the cards.

following up on the agreement between the state and the SDF

— Syrian diplomatic sourceExplaining the main focus of Barzani's one-day visit.

The January agreement marked a shift for Kurdish aspirations for autonomy in northeastern Syria, areas they had controlled during the civil war, particularly after fighting ISIS. While Damascus has since taken steps like integrating government forces into Hasakeh and Qamishli and transferring control of oil fields, the full integration of SDF brigades into the Syrian army has faced delays. The deal also included provisions for the return of displaced Syrian Kurds, though some are still awaiting repatriation. Barzani had previously expressed hope that the agreement would safeguard Kurdish rights in the future constitution.

protection of the rights of the Kurds... in the forthcoming constitution

— BarzaniExpressing hope for the outcome of the integration agreement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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