Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Mazloum Abdi, Commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, in Erbil on January 22, 2026. Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Mazloum Abdi, Commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, in Erbil on Thursday. The key meeting comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Syrian and Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava).
In a statement, the Kurdistan Region Presidency reported that President Barzani received Abdi and "a delegation of his aides" to review "the latest developments" on the Syrian front.
The Kurdistan Region President "emphasized the importance of sustaining efforts and maintaining contacts with all relevant parties to prevent escalation, contain crises, and initiate dialogue between Hasaka and Damascus."
He further "reiterated the importance of ensuring and safeguarding the rights of the Kurdish population [in northeast Syria, Rojava] and the integrity of all [ethnic and religious] components within a united Syria."
For his part, Abdi was quoted as “expressing his gratitude and appreciation for the role and support of President Nechirvan Barzani and the Kurdistan Region, highlighting their efforts to stabilize the situation and resolve ongoing issues.”
The SDF chief further “emphasized [Rojava’s] readiness to peacefully address problems while ensuring the rights of the Kurdish people within a united Syria.”
The meeting between President Barzani and Abdi “also addressed the threats posed by [the Islamic State] ISIS and their impact on security and stability in Syria and the wider region.”
This is a developing story...
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