US envoy meets SDF chief in Erbil amid Syria tensions

Iraqi media reported on Saturday that the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, arrived in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil accompanied by the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, ahead of a planned bilateral meeting between the two sides.

According to the reports, the meeting is expected to focus on ways to contain military tensions and prevent hostilities from expanding into northeastern Syria, amid rapidly unfolding developments on the ground in recent days.

Earlier media reports had indicated that the meeting was due to take place in Erbil as part of a coordinated US effort to avert a wider conflict between Syrian government forces and the SDF.

The reports said that the president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, played a mediating role in facilitating the talks.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led forces, following days of clashes earlier this month in the Kurdish neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in Aleppo.

Fighting displaced tens of thousands of civilians and highlighted unresolved disputes over military integration, decentralisation and constitutional guarantees for Kurdish and minority rights.

On Saturday morning, Abdi announced the withdrawal of SDF forces from contact lines east of Aleppo, saying the move came in response to calls from "friendly countries and mediators" and as a "goodwill gesture" aimed at implementing the 10 March agreement.

The Syrian Ministry of Defence welcomed the withdrawal of SDF forces from areas west of the Euphrates. In a statement, the ministry said army units had begun deploying to positions vacated by the SDF in order to “impose state sovereignty and secure the area”.

The developments follow a decree issued last week by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa recognising Kurdish identity and granting citizenship to previously unregistered Kurds.

While the decree was welcomed by some, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria said rights could not be guaranteed through temporary measures alone and called instead for a permanent democratic constitution.

Despite US-backed mediation efforts, talks between Damascus and the SDF over the integration of Kurdish-led forces into state institutions have repeatedly stalled, with Syrian forces pushing further into formerly SDF-held northern towns.