SDF commander meets French Foreign Minister in Erbil on security, agreement implementation
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi held a meeting on Thursday with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, focusing on regional security, the ongoing counter-ISIS campaign, and the implementation of the Jan. 29 agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government, SDF and French officials said.
The discussions, attended by Ilham Ahmed, Co-chair of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), and Rohlat Afrin, Commander-in-Chief of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), centered on the details of executing the comprehensive agreement reached last month, the parties said in statements and posts on X by Abdi.
In his post on X, Abdi said the talks included “details of implementing the Jan. 29 agreement,” continued efforts in the fight against the Islamic State group (ISIS), and steps to secure detention facilities holding ISIS fighters and their families.
Abdi also noted that the discussions covered the integration of military and security forces provided for in the agreement, including the role of women’s units. “We discussed full integration of military and security forces, including the YPJ,” Abdi wrote.
According to the French foreign minister, he underscored the importance of fully implementing the agreement and reaffirmed France’s support for this phase of the process, emphasizing cooperation on security and political stability in northeastern Syria and its environs.
The meeting comes amid heightened diplomatic engagement in the region following the landmark agreement on Jan. 29, which aims to solidify a ceasefire and lay the groundwork for the phased integration of SDF units and administrative structures into national institutions. This agreement followed months of negotiations after clashes earlier in the year.
Barrot’s visit to Erbil is part of a broader Middle East tour that includes talks on bilateral cooperation, stability, and counter-terrorism with regional partners. In parallel, the SDF leadership reiterated its commitment to counter-ISIS operations, cooperation with international partners, and maintaining security in areas under its control. Thursday’s discussions also touched on the protection of Kurdish areas and safeguarding the rights of local communities within the framework of ongoing political processes in Syria, according to statements shared by Abdi on social media.