SDF Commander Meets British Special Envoy to Discuss Syria’s Future and Counterterrorism
By Kardo Roj
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – General Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced on Wednesday that he met with British Special Envoy to Syria, Ann Snow, marking a key diplomatic engagement between the UK and authorities in northeast Syria.
The meeting comes as part of a broader effort by the UK to engage with political and military actors in the region following the fall of the Assad regime. On Tuesday, Snow also met with Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Autonomous Administration’s Department of Foreign Relations, in what was described as the first official British visit to the area in the post-Assad era.
Abdi shared details of his meeting with the British envoy in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I was pleased to welcome British Special Envoy to Syria, Ann Snow. We discussed several key issues regarding Syria’s future and the fight against terrorism.”
He emphasized the importance of continued UK-SDF cooperation in maintaining regional security and stability, adding, “We reaffirmed the importance of our cooperation to ensure security and stability in the region. We look forward to continuing the dialogue to achieve a just and sustainable political solution.”
The visit by the British delegation signals a potential shift in the UK’s engagement in Syria, particularly with the SDF, which has been a key ally in the fight against ISIS. The UK has previously provided support for counterterrorism operations in the region, but direct political engagements have been limited.
By meeting with both military and political leadership in northeast Syria, Snow’s visit suggests an increasing British interest in shaping the political and security landscape in the post-war period. The discussions also align with broader Western concerns about preventing an ISIS resurgence and stabilizing areas outside of Damascus’s direct control.
The visit occurs amid ongoing tensions between the SDF and the Syrian government, as well as continued Turkish military threats against Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria. While the UK has not directly intervened in Syrian peace negotiations, increased diplomatic engagement with northeast Syria’s leadership could influence the broader political trajectory of the country.
The SDF has long advocated for an inclusive and decentralized political solution to Syria’s crisis, a stance that aligns with Western interests in preventing renewed conflict and extremism. However, any deeper UK involvement in the region could also raise concerns from other regional powers, including Turkey, which opposes Western support for the SDF.
As diplomatic discussions continue, the extent of the UK’s role in Syria’s political and security future remains to be seen.