In a significant diplomatic development, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa conducted a discreet meeting with 15 prominent Kurdish intellectuals and community leaders from the northern city of Kobane, according to Kurdish sources familiar with the matter. The encounter occurred during an unpublicized presidential visit to the recently captured Tabqa Dam, Syria’s largest hydroelectric facility.
The diverse delegation represented various segments of Kurdish political society, including both supporters and opponents of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). President Sharaa utilized the forum to emphasize implementation of his recently declared initiative recognizing Kurdish civil and cultural rights, while simultaneously criticizing SDF leadership for what he characterized as territorial ambitions rather than genuine concern for Kurdish welfare.
“They prioritize territorial control over Kurdish rights,” Sharaa asserted during the meeting, adding, “I will prevent this fragmentation and pursue national unification.” Despite these criticisms, attendees reportedly found reassurance in the president’s commitments to protecting Kurdish rights within a unified Syrian state.
This diplomatic outreach coincides with a substantial shift in American foreign policy, with Washington redirecting support from the SDF—formerly its primary partner against Islamic State—to President Sharaa’s transitional government. This policy realignment has enabled Syrian government forces to reclaim strategic territories including Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor, along with critical infrastructure such as oil fields, agricultural lands, and detention facilities housing ISIS suspects.
The geopolitical maneuvering follows a January 18 ceasefire agreement that has faced implementation challenges. Additional reporting reveals that SDF chief Mazloum Abdi met with President Sharaa in Damascus for five hours on January 19, where Sharaa offered significant concessions including nomination rights for deputy defense minister and governor of Hasakah positions. Abdi reportedly retreated from previously agreed terms, demanding full autonomy for Hasakah and integrated military unit status for SDF forces rather than individual incorporation into the Syrian army.
The negotiations reached a critical juncture when US envoy Tom Barrack departed the meeting in apparent frustration over Abdi’s reversal on the agreement he had personally mediated. This development prompted direct communication between former President Trump and Sharaa, during which Trump emphasized Syrian sovereignty and unity while urging secure management of ISIS detention facilities previously overseen by SDF forces.