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Syria
Mazloum Abdi (Kobani), commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), gives a press conference near Hasaka, northeast Syria, October 24, 2019. File photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – James Jeffrey, the US special representative for Syria engagement, met with Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in northeast Syria on Tuesday.
According to local media, they discussed the latest developments in the fight against the Islamic State group (ISIS).
Ronahi TV, media close to the SDF, did not specify where and precisely when the meeting took place.
Jeffrey is also the US special envoy for the 81-member global coalition to defeat ISIS.
The SDF is the coalition’s main partner on the ground in Syria. The US has provided Kurdish forces with military and logistical support since 2014.
Despite President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria’s northern border with Turkey, effectively greenlighting a Turkish offensive against the SDF in October, the US still enjoys good relations with the Kurds.
A contingent of US troops remains in northeast Syria to guard the region’s lucrative oil fields.
Before his visit to northeast Syria, Jeffrey met with Kurdish officials in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
In a meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Jeffrey discussed the situation of Syria’s Kurds.
“President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated that he will continue his efforts to bring Syrian Kurdish sides together and supports any step for agreement and uniting their ranks for the purpose of obtaining their rights and a better position for Kurds in the present and future of Syria,” according to a statement from Barzani’s office.
Syrian Kurdish parties have been divided into two main factions for years, with some supporting the Democratic Union Party (PYD)-led administration in northeast Syria, or Rojava, while others – known as the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) – oppose it.
The latter is supported by the Kurdistan Region’s ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
However, following an initiative by Abdi, both sides seem to have reached an understanding. The ENKS has been permitted to reopen its offices in Rojava.
Kurdish American Congressional Caucus
Ralph Abraham, a member of the Kurdish American Congressional Caucus, was also in Rojava on Tuesday. After meeting with Kurdish officials there, Abraham told reporters he was “impressed” by the progress of reconstruction in Raqqa – a former ISIS stronghold devastated in the conflict.
“I am impressed so much by the progress that has been made in Raqqa. Literally, the city has risen from rubble and it is continuing to rise every day that the sun rises,” he said.
“As head of Kurdish Caucus in Congress, I will take this message of back to those members that are in that Caucus, all members of the Congress, President [Donald] Trump, and Vice President [Mike] Pence and all of his administration,” the congressman added.
Qamishli blast
Two civilians were killed in an explosion in the Kurdish city of Qamishli in northeast Syria earlier on Tuesday, according to Rudaw’s reporter at the scene.
A piece of scrap is believed to have been booby-trapped, exploding as it was being handled at a local yard, according to security forces.
As of Tuesday evening, no one has claimed responsibility for the blast.
The city has been rocked by similar explosions in recent months as tensions between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed militias spill over.
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