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United States Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack met with Mazloum Abdi, a senior ringleader of the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, which operates in Syria under the name SDF, the U.S. Embassy in Damascus announced Saturday.
In a statement shared on the embassy’s X social media account, the meeting was said to focus on the current situation in Syria and steps toward stability.
“They also discussed practical steps towards integration into a unified Syria for a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and stable future for all Syrians. They agreed the time for unity is now,” the post read..
Separately on Saturday, Barrack joined Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Amman for trilateral talks aimed at consolidating a fragile cease-fire in Syria’s southern Sweida province.
According to a statement from the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the three officials agreed on a series of practical measures to stabilize the region, including the deployment of Syrian security forces in Sweida, the release of detainees held by all parties, community reconciliation efforts, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid.
The statement said the steps also include promoting civil peace and reaffirming Syrian sovereignty and the rule of law across the country.
Safadi and Barrack welcomed the Syrian government’s commitment to holding accountable those responsible for violations against civilians and voiced support for efforts to reject violence, sectarianism, and incitement.
Shaibani praised the roles of Jordan and the United States in brokering and supporting the cease-fire, which the Syrian presidency announced earlier Saturday following days of clashes in Sweida.
Meanwhile, Syrian Interior Ministry announced late Saturday that the city of Sweida has been cleared of tribal fighters and clashes have been halted.
“Following intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement — after the deployment of its forces in the northern and western areas of Sweida province — the city of Sweida has been cleared of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city’s neighborhoods have been brought to a halt,” stated ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba, according to the state-run news agency, SANA.
Fighting erupted in Sweida on July 13 between armed Druze groups and Bedouin Arab tribes. Violence escalated, leading to Israeli airstrikes that targeted Syrian military positions in Damascus and elsewhere. Israel cited protection of Druze communities as justification for its attacks.
However, most Druze leaders in Syria publicly rejected foreign intervention and reaffirmed their commitment to a unified Syrian state.
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Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Israel intensified its air campaign in Syria and declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement with Damascus defunct, along with the buffer zone between the two countries.
Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party’s reign that began in 1963. A transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was established in January.
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