ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani called for unity among Kurdish factions in northeast Syria and urged their active participation in the political processes of the country, a statement from Barzani’s office read on Thursday.
President Barzani “underscored the significance of the involvement of the Kurds,” who are now being granted citizenship after a presidential decree was passed in January 2026, “in the political process and in the political, legislative, and administrative institutions of Syria.”
In a meeting with Mohammed Ismail, the leader of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), Barzani “highlighted the influential role of ENKS,” and “importance of ongoing dialogue and understanding among all Kurdish factions.”
After weeks of fierce clashes between Syrian state military forces on territorial issues, Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de-facto military of the Syrian northeast administration (Rojava) - signed an agreement in late January to accelerate the then stalled integration process of the Kurdish region’s civilian and military institutions.
Barzani called for improving relations and partnership with Syrian interim authorities “as a means of reaching a comprehensive solution to the critical political challenges at hand, while safeguarding security and stability.”
After weeks of fierce clashes, Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de facto military of the Syrian northeast administration (Rojava) - signed an agreement in late January to accelerate the then stalled integration process of the Kurdish region’s civilian and military institutions.
Since the agreement, 4,000 Kurdish fighters have joined Syria's internal security forces, while 5,000 have been incorporated into newly formed brigades in northeast Syria.
Despite rising concerns over their rights and representation, Kurdish parties participated in the late May elections and secured eight seats in the 210-seat Syrian legislature.
Encouraging further engagement, President Barzani and the ENKS delegation further affirmed Kurdish participation as a “fundamental principle for safeguarding their rights.”
Of note, the Kurdistan Region President received SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in Erbil on Tuesday.
The meeting coincided with a separate gathering that brought General Abdi and the US envoy to Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack, who played a key role in facilitating negotiations between Damascus and the SDF to reach the landmark agreement in January.
“We exchanged views on the latest developments in Syria and the region, emphasizing dialogue, coordination, and joint efforts to preserve stability, enhance security, and support peaceful solutions,” President Barzani said in a post on X.
