The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, received on Thursday evening (5 February 2026) the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, and his accompanying delegation in Erbil.
According to a statement issued by the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the meeting addressed the latest field and political developments in Syria, the Kurdish issue, as well as the agreement concluded between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces. Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s support for peaceful solutions, stressing the importance of continued dialogue among all parties and the protection of the rights of all components and of the Kurdish people within the framework of a unified Syria.
For his part, Mazloum Abdi presented an overview of the situation in the region and the course of dialogues with Damascus and international actors, expressing his gratitude and appreciation for the role played by Nechirvan Barzani and the Kurdistan Region in supporting the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people and efforts to de-escalate tensions.
The two sides also discussed the risks of terrorism and the movements of ISIS in the region, agreeing that coordination among the relevant parties, along with the support of the International Coalition, constitutes a key factor in safeguarding the security and stability of the region, according to the statement.
In a related context, Rudaw TV channel published photos showing the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, together with Mazloum Abdi, Ilham Ahmed, and Rohlat Afrin.
Earlier the same day, President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani received the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, and his accompanying delegation upon their arrival in Erbil from the federal capital, Baghdad. The two sides held a joint press conference during which Barrot stated: “I thank the President of the Kurdistan Region for his very important role in achieving peace in Syria.”
Addressing Nechirvan Barzani, he added: “I thank you, Mr. President, for your very important role, especially in the agreement of the 29th of last month,” noting that “France has made great efforts to bring about peace in Syria.”
He further stated that “the rights of the Kurds are protected in Iraq and should be protected in Syria as well,” emphasizing the necessity of “the participation of the Kurds in Syria’s future.”
Barrot also stressed the need to protect the Kurdistan Region, saying: “We must preserve the Kurdistan Region, as it has been targeted several times in the past, and we will not stand idly by,” affirming that “France strongly supports the establishment of security in the Kurdistan Region.”
At the same press conference, Nechirvan Barzani underscored the importance of implementing the agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government, stating: “We highly appreciate the important role of President Macron in reaching a ceasefire in Syria, resuming dialogue between Damascus and the SDF, and supporting the rights of the Kurds and other components.”
He added: “Together with the French Foreign Minister, we emphasized the necessity of implementing the agreement signed between the SDF and Damascus under international supervision.”
It is scheduled that the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, will hold a meeting with the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, to discuss the January 30 agreement with the Syrian government. The Rojava delegation includes, alongside Abdi, Rohlat Afrin from the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), and Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Department of External Relations.
In Damascus, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated during a press conference following his meeting with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shibani at Tishreen Palace that the agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces constitutes a fundamental support for efforts to combat ISIS and strengthens the rights of Syrian Kurds. He said that France “mobilized itself at all levels to prevent the escalation of violence between the government and the SDF until the two parties reached the recent agreement,” stressing that France’s priority is counterterrorism and reaffirming Paris’s continued support for the Syrian people and their institutions.
In Baghdad, Barrot explained during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, that the purpose of his visit to Iraq is to combat terrorism, stating: “French soldiers fought in Iraq alongside Iraqi forces to combat terrorism, and one of the objectives of my visit to Iraq is counterterrorism.” He confirmed that the discussions addressed the situation in Syria and the ceasefire between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces, noting that Paris remains aligned with a comprehensive peaceful transition process that includes all components of the Syrian people.
For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced Iraq’s support for the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF, warning that continued instability in Syria would negatively affect Iraq’s security, and reaffirming continued cooperation with France in the fight against ISIS.
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