Turkey and Syrian Democratic Forces Hold Direct US-Brokered Talks Amid Regional Realignments
Turkey and SDF hold landmark US-mediated talks on Syria's future as US withdraws troops. Damascus and Kurdish administration advance reconciliation with prisoner swaps while Erdogan watches closely.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a remarkable diplomatic development, Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held direct talks last week under the mediation of the United States. The unprecedented discussions focused on key issues shaping Syria’s future, including the fate of Islamic State (ISIS) detainees, integration of the SDF into a new Syrian military, and future Kurdish governance.
According to Middle East Eye, the meeting, attended by mid-level officials from both Turkey and the SDF, marked the first formally acknowledged dialogue between the two parties with direct US involvement., the talks addressed the impending US withdrawal from Syria, the handover of ISIS prisoners and camps, and plans for integrating SDF forces into a unified military structure under Damascus’s authority.
The talks come at a critical time as Washington continues to reduce its military footprint in the region. On June 2, 2025, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that US forces had executed a sudden and significant withdrawal from two major bases in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province—al-Omar oil field and the Conoco gas plant. The withdrawal began incrementally on May 18 and accelerated in recent days, accompanied by intensified aerial activity from the US-led Coalition.
Speaking to Turkey’s NTV, US envoy for Syria Tom Barrack stated: "The reduction of our OIR engagement on a military basis is happening," the US envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, said in an interview with Turkey's NTV late on Monday.
"We've gone from eight bases to five to three. We'll eventually go to one."
Following the US exit, elite SDF commando units reportedly took control of the vacated facilities. According to SOHR, joint SDF-Coalition anti-ISIS operations are expected to continue, now coordinated from the al-Shaddadi base south of Hasakah.
Erdogan Presses Damascus on SDF Agreement
On May 22, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underscored the importance of Syria's adherence to its landmark agreement with the SDF, urging the Syrian government to “remain focused” on the integration plan.
“We are closely monitoring the implementation of the agreement between Damascus and the SDF,” Erdogan told reporters on his return flight from Budapest. “The Syrian government must not lose focus on this matter.”
The agreement, signed on March 10, 2025, between SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa, includes provisions for merging administrative and military institutions and protecting Kurdish rights within a unified Syrian framework.
Abdi Confirms Conditional Ceasefire with Turkey
In a televised interview with Shams TV on May 31, 2025, Mazloum Abdi confirmed the existence of a “temporary, conditional truce” with Turkey that had been in effect for over two months.
“We’re not at war with Turkey today,” Abdi stated. “We have a temporary, conditional truce, and we hope it becomes permanent.”
Abdi acknowledged ongoing direct and indirect communication channels with Ankara, but stressed that Turkey continues to demand the SDF’s integration into the Syrian army and resolution of tensions along the frontlines. Responding to speculation about a possible meeting with President Erdogan, he said: “There are no plans at the moment, but I have no objection. The future is open.”
Syrian Government and DAANES Advance Reconciliation
On June 1, 2025, in line with the March 10 agreement, Syrian government officials and representatives from the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) convened in Damascus for what Brig. Gen. Ziad al-Ayesh described to SANA as a “positive and responsible” meeting.
According to SANA, both sides agreed to establish specialized subcommittees to oversee implementation of the agreement, including education logistics, the return of displaced persons, and administrative integration. The two parties also committed to reactivating the Aleppo agreements on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods to enhance local stability.
General al-Ayesh told SANA that the discussion also covered the removal of bureaucratic barriers to allow displaced families to return to their homes. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to dialogue and Syria’s territorial unity, with plans for another round of talks in the near future.
Confidence-Building Measures on the Ground
Further signaling a thaw in relations, AP reported that on June 2, 2025, the Syrian government and the SDF carried out a large-scale prisoner exchange in Aleppo, releasing over 400 detainees. This marked the second such exchange in recent months.
Mulham al-Akidi, deputy governor of Aleppo, confirmed that 470 prisoners were freed in total, describing the move as a step toward “reducing tensions on the ground.” He added that additional releases could occur if more detainees are identified.
One freed civilian, Yasser Mohammed Hakim, said he was mistakenly detained after entering SDF-held territory and described being held in a facility with ISIS detainees. “They put us with the biggest terrorists,” he told AP. “I lost six months of my life.”
Strategic Crossroads for Syria’s Future
This intricate web of diplomacy—spanning Turkish-SDF contacts, US military drawdowns, and intra-Syrian reconciliation—marks a pivotal chapter in Syria’s post-Assad transition. With growing momentum for a decentralized political model and regional cooperation, the fate of Kurdish governance, military integration, and reconciliation hangs in the balance.
All sides appear to be navigating this delicate terrain with caution, aiming to balance national sovereignty with the aspirations of diverse political and ethnic components—including the Kurds, Arabs, and other minorities shaping Syria’s evolving identity.
