The newly appointed United States’ special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, has pledged continued American support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and encouraged dialogue with Turkey, amid reported efforts to arrange high-level talks between Ankara and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in Damascus.
According to Al-Monitor’s Amberin Zaman, Barrack made the call to Abdi—also known as Mazloum Kobane—on Thursday from the recently reopened US ambassador’s residence in Damascus. It marked the first official use of the residence in 13 years, signalling a renewed diplomatic presence in Syria. Barrack also serves concurrently as US Ambassador to Turkey and was recently assigned the Syria file.
Barrack’s message, as relayed by sources speaking to Al-Monitor, was twofold: the US would continue to back the SDF in its fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), and it would support ongoing efforts to mediate between the SDF and Turkey.
The conversation coincides with signs of a major policy shift by Ankara. Turkish officials have reportedly proposed a direct meeting with Abdi, to be held in Damascus, contingent on progress in ongoing talks between a Kurdish-led delegation and Syria’s interim government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. While the meeting scheduled for Friday was postponed without explanation, sources familiar with the talks said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan or the intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın could represent Ankara in any future encounter with Abdi.
Such a meeting would mark a significant departure from Ankara’s longstanding hostility towards the SDF, which it views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). However, following the PKK’s 12 May announcement of the end of its armed campaign, Turkey has shown signs of recalibrating its approach to the SDF and the broader Kurdish issue in Syria.
A partial deal signed in March between Abdi and interim President al-Sharaa laid the groundwork for integrating SDF forces into the Syrian national army while preserving local policing and governance structures. Although the arrangement stops short of constitutional autonomy, it appears to have Turkey’s tacit approval.
Zaman also reports that a planned prisoner exchange collapsed this week, after Syrian government forces allegedly failed to release detained Kurdish women fighters. The SDF, in turn, is said to have withheld jihadist detainees sought by Damascus.
