KDP Leader Masoud Barzani (right) and SDF Commander General Mazloum Abdi (left)
Jan. 16 meeting
US supports Kurdish dialogue in Erbil meeting, says State Department
BAGHDAD — The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs expressed support for the recent meeting in Erbil between Kurdistan Democratic Party President Masoud Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces Commander General Mazloum Abdi.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the bureau stated, “The United States welcomed the January 16 meeting between Kurdistan Democratic Party President Masoud Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces Commander General Mazloum Abdi. Intra-Kurdish dialogue can play a critical role in bolstering an inclusive political transition in Syria.”
In northeastern Syria, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria oversees governance in predominantly Kurdish-populated areas. This region is under the military control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition led primarily by the People’s Protection Units and supported by the United States in the fight against the Islamic State.
Within the Kurdish political landscape in Syria, the Kurdish National Council, an umbrella organization of Kurdish political parties closely allied with Iraq’s Kurdistan Democratic Party, has long-standing tensions with the Democratic Union Party, the leading faction within the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.
Both factions face increasing pressure to reconcile and present a unified Kurdish front, especially as international discussions intensify regarding Syria’s future political settlement.
Following the Jan. 16 meeting, Mazloum Abdi posted on X, stating, “Our meeting with President Masoud Barzani was a source of satisfaction. We discussed the transformative process Syria is undergoing and reaffirmed the importance of Kurdish unity in Syria.”
Abdi emphasized the necessity of a unified Kurdish stance and peaceful dialogue with Damascus to protect Kurdish rights and ensure stability in the region.
The United States views such intra-Kurdish dialogues as essential for fostering an inclusive and stable political environment in Syria, which is crucial for regional security and the ongoing efforts to dismantle extremist groups.