Barzani Meets Syria's Al-Sharaa in Historic Damascus Visit on Kurdish Integration

The SDF Integration Process

The SDF and the Syrian government signed an agreement in January providing for the integration of SDF fighters into the defence and interior ministries and the formation of military units under Syrian army command. The SDF's territorial control has since narrowed from its peak of roughly one-third of Syria to core strongholds in Al-Hasakah Governorate, after handing over administrative authority in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to state institutions.

Barzani previously welcomed the January agreement as a "significant and right step" and expressed hope it would "pave the way for rebuilding a unified Syria, protecting the rights of Kurds and all components in the upcoming constitution." Kurdish leaders have pressed for constitutional guarantees on language rights and administrative autonomy.

The two presidents previously met in April 2025 and again in April 2026 on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye. The visit follows months of diplomatic engagement, including efforts to reopen a Syrian consulate in Erbil, the Kurdish regional capital.

Security and Humanitarian Dimensions

Beyond SDF integration, the talks addressed the fate of detention facilities in northeast Syria holding an estimated 9,000 alleged ISIS fighters alongside nearly 40,000 detained family members across dozens of nationalities. The management of these camps, including Al-Hol and Al-Ruj, represents a complex international security burden expected to transition to Damascus.

Steps already taken under the January agreement include the entry of Syrian security forces into Al-Hasakah and Al-Qamishli, state takeover of Al-Qamishli airport and northeastern oil fields, and the appointment of prominent Kurdish military leader Sipan Hemo as assistant to the minister of defence for the eastern region. Barzani has also hosted SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in Erbil, particularly during Syrian military operations in the northeast earlier this year.

Ongoing Challenges Ahead

The talks proceed amid ongoing clashes between Syrian forces and Kurdish fighters in the northeast, though both sides have signalled commitment to advancing the January integration agreement. Barzani emphasized shared interests, stating that "by virtue of being neighbours, Syria, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region share many common interests, and there are great opportunities to expand economic cooperation to achieve mutual benefit for all our peoples." Further negotiations between Damascus and the SDF are expected to continue as the integration process unfolds.