ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A delegation from the Swedish foreign ministry met with Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday, discussing politics and military issues as well as building “strategic relations,” according to a senior Kurdish official.
The Swedish delegation, led by the Special Envoy for the Syrian Crisis Per Orneus, arrived in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Saturday to meet with Kurdish officials and visit IDP camps in the area.
The delegation was received by Abdi on Monday, discussing a range of topics including military and political support for the SDF in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and building “strategic relations.”
“We discussed means of supporting the region politically and militarily, solutions regarding ISIS detainees in the SDF prisons and their families, and how to build strategic relationships that serve the region,” Newroz Ahmed, commander of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) told the SDF-affiliated Hawar News Agency (ANHA).
The YPJ, along with the People’s Protection Units (YPG) form the backbone of the SDF.
The delegation also discussed Turkey’s presence in northern Syria. Ankara currently occupies Afrin in Aleppo province, as well as a stretch of Rojava from Gire Spi (Tel Abyad) to Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain).
Orneus was quoted by ANHA as saying that he was sorry that Turkey had entered SDF-held areas in northern Syria.
"The NE Syria region has witnessed change since my last visit in 2019, because some of those areas that I visited are now under Turkey's control, and this is a sad issue which we regret," he said.
Turkey has carried out three military operations against Kurdish fighters in Syria since 2016, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Syrian Kurds commemorated the first anniversary of the latest incursion, Operation Peace Spring, this month.
The delegation’s visit came days after Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde entered a diplomatic spat with her Turkish counterpart during a joint presser in Ankara, reiterating calls for Turkey to withdraw from Rojava.
“I have been clear about our position regarding northeast Syria but the strong EU position remains the same. We continue to urge Turkey to withdraw,” she said.
“In diplomacy, it is incorrect and arrogant to use the word ‘urge’,” Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu said in response.
Rojava officials, including Abdi, welcomed Linde’s remarks.
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