US President Donald Trump’s envoy for Syria said Tuesday he held “great” meetings with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the leader of Kurdish forces, just hours after heavy clashes between the two sides erupted.
Both sides agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire, according to US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, who told Al Arabiya English that the meetings also focused on “an implementation and recommitment to the March 10 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian government.”
The March agreement called for integrating Kurdish civil and military structures into the central government by the end of 2025.
“Very good meetings, and all going in the right direction,” Barrack said.
The US diplomat and US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper met with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi on Monday to discuss relations between the Kurdish-led group and the central government.
Hours later, clashes broke out in Aleppo and both sides traded blame over the renewed violence.
Barrack and Cooper intervened early Tuesday to bring both sides together and halt the fighting.
Barrack, who also serves as US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Lebanon, has played an increasingly active role in mediating disputes across Syria and the wider region. He has worked to ensure rival factions in Syria move toward a peaceful settlement and to build regional and international support for the Syrian government.
That effort has included discussions aimed at easing the economic sanctions imposed on Damascus during the Assad era.
“My role is always to implement [President Trump’s] policy of promoting peace and prosperity by coaxing, encouraging ushering and encouraging the parties to a mutually acceptable decision,” Barrack told Al Arabiya English.
Al Arabiya
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