US Envoy Urges Continuation of Syria Ceasefire in Talks with Masoud Barzani
London : Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy for Syria, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to maintaining the ceasefire agreement in northeastern Syria between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
In a message posted on X, Barrack said he had a “productive phone call” with Masoud Barzani to discuss the situation in Syria, emphasizing the importance of preserving the ceasefire and ensuring humanitarian assistance for those in need, particularly in Kobani.
Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party since 1979 and former president of the Kurdistan region from 2005 to 2017, remains a key figure in regional politics. The current president, Nechirvan Barzani, had recently welcomed a decree by Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa officially recognizing the Kurdish population as an integral part of Syria.
Barrack reiterated US support for efforts to advance the January 18 agreement, which aims to integrate the SDF, a Kurdish-led faction commanded by Mazloum Abdi, into state institutions. The SDF recently engaged in clashes with Syrian government forces, highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire.
On Saturday, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the Syrian Ministry of Defense had extended the ceasefire deal by 15 days, underlining ongoing efforts to maintain stability in the region.
