SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi Meets CENTCOM Leaders to Address ISIS and Regional Stability
Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi held a high-level meeting with U.S. military leaders, including General Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), to discuss strategies for combating ISIS and promoting stability in the region.
During the meeting, Abdi and CENTCOM leaders addressed critical issues such as joint operations against ISIS, the rehabilitation of families in the al-Hol camp, and securing detention facilities holding ISIS fighters. The discussions underscored the importance of international cooperation in overcoming security and humanitarian challenges.
General Kurilla’s visit, part of an eight-day regional tour to assess the security landscape, included a stop at the al-Hol camp, which houses over 40,000 displaced individuals, many linked to ISIS. The camp, alongside al-Roj and over a dozen SDF-guarded detention facilities holding more than 9,000 ISIS detainees from over 50 countries, remains a pressing concern for regional and international security.
Accompanying General Kurilla were Major General Kevin Leahy, Commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), and Brigadier General Michael Brooks, Commander of Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant (CSOJTF-L).
USCENTCOM Commander Visits Syria
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 16, 2025
On 16 January, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), traveled to Syria, where he met U.S. military commanders and servicemembers, as well as our Defeat-ISIS partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to get an… pic.twitter.com/O2Ft3FeeNz
A statement from CENTCOM described the camps as potential incubators for the next generation of ISIS. General Kurilla reaffirmed CENTCOM’s commitment to supporting the repatriation of camp residents and facilitating the legal transfer of ISIS detainees to their home countries.
Mazloum Abdi echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for robust international involvement to stabilize northeastern Syria. “We reaffirmed the importance of strengthening partnerships and the critical role of the U.S. in achieving a permanent ceasefire in Northeast Syria and ensuring security and stability across the entire country,” Abdi said in a statement shared on the social platform X.
The meeting highlighted the shared commitment of the SDF and CENTCOM to thwarting a potential ISIS resurgence and fostering long-term stability in the region. The Syrian Democratic Forces, a key ally in the international fight against ISIS, continue to call for sustained global support to address the ongoing security and humanitarian challenges in northeastern Syria.
