KDP President Masoud Barzani and SDF leader discuss new agreement with Damascus

ERBIL – Kurdistan Democratic Party President Masoud Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi spoke by phone Wednesday to review political developments in Syria, including a new accord between the SDF and the Syrian government.

Abdi detailed the outcomes of his recent visit to Damascus, where officials reached an understanding on incorporating SDF troops into Syria’s national military and managing key areas in the northeast. The agreement calls for the SDF-controlled regions—including strategic border crossings, an airport, and oil and gas fields—to transition to Damascus’s authority under U.S.-facilitated mediation.

In a separate but related development, Syria’s new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, confirmed plans to integrate the Kurdish-led SDF into the national army by year’s end. This move is expected to unify military forces and bring the oil-rich northeast under centralized control while protecting minority rights.

Both Barzani and Abdi stressed the importance of measures that foster peace and stability in Syria. They also highlighted the necessity of a cohesive Kurdish position in shaping the next phase of Syria’s political process.

On Jan. 16 in Erbil, the two leaders met in person to deliberate Syria’s evolving political and security landscape. According to a statement from Barzani’s office, they discussed a broader framework for addressing Syria’s challenges and the critical need for a unified Kurdish stance. The statement read, “It was emphasized that the Kurdish parties in Syria must determine their future independently and without external interference, relying on peaceful means to safeguard their rights.”