US Envoy Meets SDF Commander on Syria Ceasefire Enforcement

US Reiterates Support for Ceasefire in Syria’s North

A meeting between US envoy Tom Barrack and Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has reaffirmed the importance of upholding a ceasefire in Syria’s north. The agreement was reached after discussions with Ilham Ahmed, a leading Syrian Kurdish politician.

According to Barrack, all parties involved have agreed that maintaining the current ceasefire is crucial. He also reiterated US support for an agreement signed on January 18 between the Syrian government and the SDF, which aims to integrate the Kurdish-led forces into state institutions as part of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s efforts to unify Syria.

The agreement had been met with resistance from the SDF, which sought continued autonomy for some Kurdish-majority areas. The conflict escalated over several weeks, with Syrian government forces seizing control of Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir Az Zor. These territories include significant oilfields, agricultural land, and jails holding ISIL prisoners, 150 of whom have been transferred to Iraq.

Under a ceasefire announced on Tuesday, the government gave the SDF four days to develop a plan for its remaining enclaves to merge. The agreement also stated that government troops would not enter two remaining SDF-held cities – Hasakah and Qamishli – if a deal was reached. However, both parties have since accused each other of breaching the truce.

The US has maintained its support for the SDF in the past, but recent developments suggest that the group’s role may be diminishing. The Syrian government has strengthened ties with the country’s new leader, al-Sharaa, which has led to a shift in US priorities.

Source: Al Jazeera