Syria Kurds deal discussed in Barzani Damascus visit

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Nechirvan Barzani, leader of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, in Damascus on Monday for talks that Syrian official sources told AFP were aimed at advancing a deal with Syria's Kurds.

Syrian state news agency SANA said Sharaa received Barzani at the presidential palace. It said the visit was the first by the head of Iraq's Kurdistan region since the December 2024 ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.

After clashes in January between Syrian Kurdish fighters and forces of the new authorities, the two sides reached a deal to integrate Syrian Kurdish institutions and forces into the state.

Sharaa's office said he and Barzani discussed “strengthening cooperation and coordination, especially economic” in a way that would support security and stability.

Barzani said he affirmed support for a stable and united Syria where the rights of all ethnic and religious communities are protected. He said they also discussed the importance of Syria playing a constructive role in regional peace and security.

A Syrian official source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the talks would cover the January deal and procedures for integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Force into the state. A Syrian diplomatic source, also speaking anonymously, said the one-day visit would mainly follow up on the agreement between the state and the SDF.

The diplomatic source said Barzani may also meet Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi, chief of the SDF. During the January fighting, Barzani met Abdi in Erbil in a US-backed meeting.

Damascus and Kurdish authorities have taken several steps since the deal, including the entry of government forces into Hasakeh and Qamishli and the transfer of management of Qamishli airport and key oil fields to the state. Senior Kurdish military official Sipan Hamo was appointed regional assistant defence minister.

Differences have delayed the integration of several SDF brigades into the Syrian army. The agreement also provided for displaced Syrian Kurds to return to their areas of origin, though some are still waiting to go back.