Damascus-SDF Talks to Resume in Paris Backed by Trump Administration, U.S. Congressman Confirms
U.S. Congressman Hamadeh and SDF General Mazloum discussed Syria's future, the search for Kayla Mueller's remains, and upcoming negotiations with Damascus, highlighting the SDF's key role in the country's decentralized governance.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a significant discussion on Syria's evolving political landscape, U.S. Congressman Abraham (Abe) J. Hamadeh received a situation brief from Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Mazloum, highlighting the U.S.-allied force's central role in the nation's future and ongoing efforts to secure peace, according to a statement released Sunday by the congressman's office.
The communication underscored the continued partnership between U.S. officials and the SDF, which the statement described as a key part of Syria’s future, composed of over 100,000 Arab and Kurdish fighters trained by U.S.-led coalition forces.
During the briefing, Congressman Hamadeh, who serves Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, thanked General Mazloum and the interim government of Damascus for their assistance in the search for the remains of Kayla Mueller, an American aid worker from Arizona.
Mueller was kidnapped by the Islamic State (IS) group, which announced her death in February 2015. The statement expressed a desire for her to be “finally buried where she belongs, in her home state of Arizona.”
The effort to locate Mueller’s remains is part of a broader agreement with Syria’s new authorities to help the United States locate and return American citizens who went missing during the country's civil war. U.S. special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, recently called the agreement a “powerful step forward,” noting that the families of Austin Tice, Majd Kamalmaz, and Kayla Mueller "must have closure."
🇺🇸NEW🇺🇸
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) August 3, 2025
Congressman Hamadeh received a situation brief from General Mazloum of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — the US ally in the fight against ISIS.
The Congressman thanked General Mazloum and the interim government of Damascus for their continued assistance in the… pic.twitter.com/DANjv0exOM
The statement from Hamadeh’s office emphasized the SDF's role in establishing stability over the last decade, noting it has protected the northeast third of Syria and “established a decentralized model that protects Christians, Arabs, Kurds, and others.”
It added that the SDF is seeking “time and space to strengthen their inclusive governance framework in Syria’s interim process.”
A major development highlighted in the statement is the resumption of Damascus-SDF negotiations, which are scheduled to take place in Paris this month with the support of the Trump Administration. The stated goal of these talks is to move Syria "toward a system grounded in protecting the rights and freedom for all," and away from the "failed approach of intimidation and retaliation" of the former regime.
These diplomatic efforts occur amid a backdrop of thawing relations between Washington and Damascus, following the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad and the formal lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria.
The sanctions relief is conditioned on Syria not providing a safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensuring security for religious and ethnic minorities, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been active on the diplomatic front, meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia and recently holding talks with Turkish officials in Ankara to discuss economic cooperation and reconstruction.
The statement from Congressman Hamadeh's office concluded by affirming a commitment to diplomacy, stating, “We continue to maintain open channels with all parties in Syria committed to peace.”
