The United States’ Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, met with the leadership of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Erbil on Thursday, aiming to solidify a fragile ceasefire and advance a recently announced integration agreement with the Syrian government.

The meeting with SDF Commander General Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of northeast Syria’s foreign relations office, marks the second high-level discussion in the Kurdistan Region’s capital in less than a week focused on de-escalation.

“The United States reaffirmed its strong support for and commitment to advancing the integration process outlined in the January 18 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian government,” Barrack stated in a post on X.

This diplomatic push follows weeks of clashes and military advances by Syrian government forces and allied factions into areas previously held by the SDF in eastern Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasaka provinces. The SDF, which served as the U.S.-led coalition's primary ground partner against ISIS until recently, controls large swathes of northeastern Syria, known as Rojava.

Details of the Damascus-SDF Agreement

On Tuesday, the Syrian presidency announced a “mutual understanding” had been reached, granting the SDF four days to develop a detailed plan for integrating their areas into state institutions. Damascus stated that if a final agreement is concluded, its forces would not enter the centers of the major Kurdish cities of Hasaka and Qamishli but would remain on their outskirts.

Subsequently, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a broader agreement signed with Commander Abdi, which included an immediate nationwide ceasefire. Key reported provisions involve significant SDF concessions:

The integration of SDF personnel “individually” into the Syrian Ministry of Defense, not as a unified force.

The full handover of administrative and military control in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces.

Integration of local civil institutions and employees into national government ministries.

Syrian state control over all border crossings and energy resources, including oil and gas fields.

Despite these concessions, the deal reportedly acknowledges a "unique status" for Kurdish-majority areas.

Barrack stressed that “maintaining calm remains the foundation for any progress,” and called for “the full upholding of the current ceasefire” to build trust.

Earlier on Thursday, SDF Commander Abdi also met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, who emphasized his efforts to maintain the ceasefire and protect Kurdish rights within a unified Syria. Their discussions also covered the risks of an Islamic State (ISIS) resurgence, underscoring the regional security stakes of the ongoing negotiations.