ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Nations Security Council on Thursday held a meeting on Syria, the first such session on the country since the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
"We encourage members of this Council and all Member States to use this opportunity for meaningful engagement with the Syrian government in support of a stable, secure, and prosperous Syria," said Tammy Bruce, US deputy representative to the UN.
Bruce did not mention the Kurds or the SDF in her remarks, despite the force's years-long partnership with Washington in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi announced the dissolution of his force earlier this week. He was later named an advisor to Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in a presidential decree published early Friday.
France and the UK welcomed the SDF's dissolution during the Security Council meeting.
"France therefore welcomes this integration of the Syrian democratic forces within the Syrian state and its institutions, which is a historic step for a sovereign and pluralist Syria," Jeremie Bonnafont, France's representative to the UN, said.
Dame Sarah MacIntosh, the UK's representative to the UN, described the move as a "milestone."
Ahmet Yildiz, Turkey's representative to the UN, told Rudaw's Namo Abdulla that despite Ankara's positive reaction to the development, it believes that "fulfillment of the agreed conditions must be verified over the time."
Ibrahim Olabi, Syria's representative to the UN, told Security Council members that all Syrians were winners from the development.
He later told Rudaw that the new leadership in Damascus "never" had a war with the Kurds.
"There was different factions, different views through different experiences."
