U.S. State Department Welcomes Meeting Between Masoud Barzani and Mazloum Abdi
The U.S. State Department has expressed its strong support for the recent meeting between Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander General Mazloum Abdi, held on Thursday.
In a tweet on Sunday, the State Department’s Office of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) stated, “The United States welcomed the January 16 meeting between Kurdistan Democratic Party [KDP] President Masoud Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] Commander General Mazloum Abdi.” The NEA added that the Intra-Kurdish dialogue could play a pivotal role in fostering an inclusive political transition in Syria.
The United States welcomed the January 16 meeting between Kurdistan Democratic Party President Masoud Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces Commander General Mazloum Abdi. Intra-Kurdish dialogue can play a critical role in bolstering an inclusive political transition in Syria.
— U.S. State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) January 19, 2025
The meeting followed the efforts of Dr. Hamid Darbandi, Barzani’s envoy, who met with General Abdi in Syria earlier in the week to discuss Kurdish unity. This was followed by Abdi’s visit to Erbil, where he met with Barzani to further strengthen cooperation.
On Wednesday, Victoria Taylor, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, visited Erbil and met with Masoud Barzani. Taylor commended Barzani’s dedication to uniting Kurdish factions within Syria and promoting harmony among different communities.
The coordination between the KDP and SDF leaders has been widely praised by Kurdish political figures and Arab communities in Syria. Barzani’s emphasis on tolerance and collaboration with all ethnic groups in predominantly Kurdish areas has been recognized as a significant step toward stability and inclusiveness.
The U.S. continues to endorse such dialogue as a cornerstone of achieving lasting peace and unity in the region.
