U.S. Envoy to Kurdistan24: “We Are Not in a Hurry to Withdraw from Syria”
U.S. envoy Barrack: "No hasty Syria withdrawal, SDF support continues." Praises transitional govt's SDF integration efforts. High-level Damascus talks focus on March 10 deal implementation, Kurdish rights & security coordination. "Positive atmosphere" reported.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, told Kurdistan24 in an exclusive interview that the United States has no intention of hastily withdrawing from Syria, emphasizing continued support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and expressing satisfaction with the transitional Syrian government’s current efforts to integrate the SDF into the future political structure of the country.
“We’re Not Interested in a Rushed Exit”
Barrack addressed recent regional speculation regarding a potential American withdrawal, clarifying: “I think the good news for Syria is the only discussion about withdrawal is from people other than the United States. We stated a long time ago that eventually we'll consolidate our bases, but we'll do so with an eye to what's happening around us. There's no hurry. We've seen what happens in a hurry in Afghanistan. We're not interested in doing that now.”
He added that while the U.S. is not looking to increase its troop presence on the ground, it remains firmly committed to its responsibilities in Syria, particularly in backing the SDF as a long-standing partner in the fight against ISIS.
Confidence in the New Syrian Government
The U.S. envoy praised the transitional Syrian authorities, stating: “We have complete confidence in the Syrian government and the new Syrian government's military.” He also underscored Washington’s aim to ensure that the SDF has a chance to integrate “into the new government in a respectful way.”
“I can tell you after today, I'm perfectly satisfied that the new Syrian government is doing everything in their power to find a path to allow that to happen,” Barrack said.
He acknowledged the difficulty facing the SDF in accepting Damascus as their only political path forward but affirmed: “That's the reality.”
High-Level Negotiations in Damascus
According to Kurdistan24 corresponded in Damascus, Barrack’s remarks followed a high-level meeting held earlier Tuesday in the Syrian capital Damascus, which brought together delegations from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) and the Syrian transitional government, in addition to American and French officials.
The round of negotiations, which took place at the Tishreen Palace, included the co-chairs of the DAANES negotiating team, Fawza Youssef and Abdel Hamid Al-Mahbash, along with SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmed, head of the Foreign Relations Department.
Representing Damascus were Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, Interior Minister Anas Khattab, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Intelligence Chief Hussein Salameh.
From the international side, the U.S. delegation was led by Thomas Barrack and Scott Pauls, the American envoy to North and East Syria, along with a U.S. Congress member. The French delegation was led by acting chargé d’affaires Jean-Baptiste Fèvre and accompanying diplomats.
Focus on Implementing the March 10 Agreement
According to media outlets close to the (People's Defense Units) YPG, the meeting centered on mechanisms for implementing the provisions of the March 10 agreement, signed between SDF commander Mazloum Abdi and the head of Syria’s transitional government.
The discussions tackled removing obstacles that hinder the agreement’s progress, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue of forcibly displaced people from Afrin, Sere Kaniye, and Tel Abyad.
The DAANES delegation also expressed strong condemnation of recent human rights violations against Kurds in Damascus, where several Kurdish citizens were reportedly arrested.
Border crossings, institutional integration between DAANES and Syrian state bodies, and enhancing security and military coordination were also on the table.
Positive Atmosphere and Next Steps
Following the meeting, Fawza Youssef told the same media outlet that the atmosphere was positive and that negotiations would continue in the near future.
As regional diplomacy intensifies and international involvement deepens, the dialogue between North and East Syria and the transitional government in Damascus appears to be gaining momentum—though the road to full political resolution remains long and complex.
