ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi on Monday hailed Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani's visit to Damascus as "historic," praising his role in advancing the Kurdish cause in Syria and the region.
"The historic visit of the President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani to Syria is a source of great joy," Abdi said in a post on X, underlining his "important role in supporting the Kurdish cause in Syria and in Kurdistan as a whole."
President Barzani arrived in Damascus on Monday where he met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa for talks that centered on enhancing economic cooperation, regional developments and a "number of issues of common interest," the Syrian presidency said in a statement.
"We are confident that this visit will have a positive impact on Syria's stability and on resolving the Kurdish issue in the region," the SDF commander noted.
President Barzani’s visit came after he had played a key role in facilitating a landmark agreement between the SDF and Damascus in late January, which followed weeks of escalation that saw Syrian government forces and affiliated armed groups seize territory previously held by the Kurdish-led forces in eastern Aleppo, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and the Kurdish-majority Hasaka province in northeast Syria (Rojava).
The SDF, which serves as the de facto military force in Rojava and remains a key partner of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS), had controlled these areas since expelling the extremist group during the war against it.
Under the agreement, a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire was established, alongside provisions calling for the integration of civil and military institutions in Rojava into the Syrian state.
Since its implementation, several SDF-linked figures have also assumed government roles, including positions within the defense and internal security structures, as well as local administration posts in Hasaka province.
The SDF-appointed Hasaka Governor Nour al-Din Ahmed on Thursday stated that about 70 percent of the institutional integration has been completed, as key combat units of the SDF army and its affiliated internal security forces (Asayish) will also be integrated as distinct, regionally-based divisions within the Syrian army and interior ministry, respectively.
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