ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States special envoy to Syria and Iraq praised the integration of Kurdish forces into the Syrian military during a security forum on Tuesday, crediting the leadership of the prominent Kurdish general Mazloum Abdi for the transition.
"No one ever thought you were going be able to integrate [the Syrian Democratic Forces] SDF, that Kurdish regime, back into a one state military, and it happened due to Mazloum [Abdi], who was the general for the Kurds, and to [Syrian interim president Ahmed] al-Sharaa," United States Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack stated at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar.
The remarks follow a historic deal reached earlier this year, known as the January agreement, between the SDF and the Syrian interim government, which accelerated the previously stalled integration of Kurdish civilian and military institutions into the national state framework.
Addressing the origins of the Kurdish forces, Barrack noted that the US had originally recruited a section of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to fight the Islamic State (ISIS), despite the group's ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by Washington and Ankara.
General Mazloum Abdi announced the formal dissolution of the SDF in August and was subsequently appointed as an advisor to the Syrian presidency.
Speaking at the Middle East Research Institute in Erbil last week, Abdi pointed to the critical role of American mediators in reaching the agreement with Damascus.
“Tom Barack and the US delegation were also present at the time. There was significant support, immense support. Right as the war started, we were together, and our meetings began right there,” Abdi said.
During his address, Abdi underscored the unconditional support provided by Kurdish leader President Masoud Barzani, while also acknowledging the contributions of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan during and after the conflict.
“This is an achievement for all Kurdish people, not just one party,” Abdi said, urging Kurdish political factions to protect the newly secured gains as the integration process continues to advance.
Following the agreement, approximately 13,000 SDF fighters have been integrated into the Syrian army in separate brigades. The political settlement also led to the appointment of a Kurdish governor for the Kurdish-majority Hasaka province, a deputy defense minister, and other key administrative posts.
General Abdi was appointed as the adviser to the Syrian presidency in late August.
