US envoy Tom Barrack visits Hasakah to follow up on Syrian govt - SDF peace deal

US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack visited the northeastern city of Hasakah this week to follow up on the implementation of the troubled 10 March peace agreement between the Syrian government and the Washington-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

In a post on X late Wednesday, Barrack wrote: "As the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, I visited Hasakah to facilitate and monitor progress in implementing the March 10 agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces."

He described the agreement as being "of great importance, not only for Syria’s stability and security, but also for the strategic interests of both Turkey and the United States".

Barrack said the visit took place "in full transparency and in the spirit of promoting regional stability, coordinating counterterrorism efforts, and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid - all of which directly serve Turkey’s security and economic interests".

Responding to criticism from Turkish commentators, Barrack rejected claims that his visit involved activities harmful to Turkish national interests.

The Turkish government says that armed Kurdish groups, which make up the lead component of the SDF, are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and considers them to be "terrorist" organisations, having fought three campaigns against them in Syria.

"Any suggestion that the visit included activities that undermine Turkey’s national interests or territorial integrity is completely false," he said.

"Any accusation that a map I’ve never seen, in a meeting room I’ve never been in, undermines Turkey’s interests is utterly ridiculous."

Barrack said his mission "continues to focus on strengthening cooperation mechanisms that reduce cross-border threats and support the broader goal of peace and regional reconstruction".

Turkey argues that the SDF’s military and political structures are directly linked to the PKK and pose a threat to its national security.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met on Tuesday in Damascus with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, Syria TV reported.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to "hold further meetings next week" as part of efforts to consolidate political and field understandings between them.

The Syrian presidency also confirmed in a statement that Sharaa received Barrack in Damascus.

Joining them was US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Defence Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra, and intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama.

The statement said the meeting addressed "the latest developments on the Syrian scene, ways to support the political process, and to enhance security and stability", as well as "discussing mechanisms for implementing the March 10 agreement in a way that preserves Syria’s unity and sovereignty".

Meanwhile, Abu Qasra announced on Tuesday that he had an additional meeting with SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi in Damascus.

The sides agreed on "a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts and military deployment points in the north and northeast of the country".

The announcement followed deadly clashes between SDF and Internal Security Forces (Asayish) on one side and Syrian security forces and the army on the other, around the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighbourhoods of Aleppo.

The fighting, which broke out late Monday and continued into Tuesday, left one civilian and three Syrian security personnel dead, while more than 26 others - including civilians - were wounded by Asayish gunfire.

Negotiations between the two sides resulted in a ceasefire and the reopening of roads that had been closed during the clashes, but there are still reports of intermittent violence.

One Syrian soldier was reportedly killed near the Tishreen Dam in northern Syria, near the frontlines between government and SDF forces, according to The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.