
SDF's Abdi in Paris for negotiations with Syrian government
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi arrived in Paris on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with a Syrian government delegation, held under joint French and US oversight.
A source close to the SDF told Shafaq News that Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Autonomous Administration's Department of Foreign Relations, accompanied Abdi alongside several senior officials from the administration.
A meeting, overseen by several French officials and US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, will bring together the SDF delegation and a Syrian government team led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani.
According to the source, preparations for the meeting began days ago through the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are being held under the direct sponsorship of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The talks aim to explore a potential agreement that would integrate the SDF and associated institutions into the structure of the Syrian state.
Earlier, Kurdish officials revealed that the Syrian government, Abdi, and Barrack reached preliminary agreements during recent talks in the Jordanian capital, Amman.
Officials from the Autonomous Administration told the Saudi Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath TV channel that the agreements included joint control of border crossings and the Tishrin Dam. However, discussions on prison facilities and oil fields were postponed to a later stage.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
15 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Iran's Quds Force chief held secret meetings with Iraqi Shiite leaders
Shafaq News – Baghdad The commander of Iran's Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, paid a brief, unannounced visit to Baghdad in recent days, where he met with senior figures in Iraq's Coordination Framework. Informed sources told Shafaq News that Qaani's visit lasted approximately ten hours and included separate meetings with former prime minister and State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki, National Wisdom Movement (Al-Hikma) leader Ammar al-Hakim, Fatah Alliance head Hadi al-Amiri, and Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq leader Humam Hammoudi. The discussions, the source revealed, focused on regional developments and Iraq's internal political landscape, with particular attention to upcoming elections and shifting alliances within the Shiite-led Coordination Framework, a major political bloc supported by Tehran. The Iranian commander did not meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani during this visit. This marks Qaani's second visit to Baghdad within two months. On June 28, he reportedly met with figures from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella of mostly Shiite paramilitary groups backed by Iran. No official statements have been issued by either the Iraqi or Iranian sides regarding these meetings.


Shafaq News
19 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq launches sweeping safety reforms after deadly Kut fire
Shafaq News – Baghdad On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered wide-ranging safety reforms aimed at strengthening civil defense protocols across the country, following a catastrophic in Kut that left at least 70 people dead. During an emergency meeting with provincial governors and relevant ministers, al-Sudani emphasized the urgent need to prevent further tragedies by improving safety standards in public institutions, commercial venues, and infrastructure projects. He directed governors to make civil defense efforts a top priority and to personally oversee the implementation of Iraq's 2013 Civil Defense Law. Under the new directives, all provinces are required to conduct inspections of public and private facilities within 15 days. Facilities found to be in violation of safety regulations may be temporarily closed for up to two weeks. Each governor will lead a local Civil Defense Committee to ensure the enforcement of emergency protocols, supervise disaster preparedness, and coordinate inter-agency responses. Al-Sudani also called for improved readiness at the national level, urging the Interior Ministry and Civil Defense Directorate to increase coordination, technical training, and oversight. The government plans to introduce televised campaigns on fire safety and emergency behavior, and is considering the integration of civil defense instruction into school and university curricula. In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will monitor occupational safety across sectors, ensuring that businesses comply with fire prevention measures and maintain proper equipment. Municipal authorities are tasked with installing fire suppression systems in high-risk areas and ensuring that new construction meets civil defense standards.


Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
Turkey's peace process commission to begin work in early August: Speaker
Also in Turkey Ocalan expects parliamentary commission will contribute to peace process Association calls on Zaza Kurds in Turkey to boost mother tongue Turkish parliament forms PKK peace talks commission DEM Party meets jailed PKK leader A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's newly formed parliamentary commission - established to secure political and legal guarantees for the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - is set to begin its work in early August, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus announced on Sunday. "With the participation of all political parties, we established the Terror-Free Turkey Commission to facilitate the process of liberation from terrorism and to disarm terrorist organizations,' Kurtulmus stated. He added that the commission also aims to implement the political and legal reforms needed to support this process, noting that 'at the beginning of August, we will start these measures.' The Turkish parliament on Friday announced the establishment of the 51-member Peace Process Commission on Friday. Its mandate is to provide the necessary legal and political frameworks for the disarmament of the PKK - a key step in the ongoing peace talks between the group and the Turkish state. The multiparty commission is expected to include 21 members from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), ten from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), and four each from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Smaller parties will occupy the remaining seats. Notably, the ultranationalist Good Party (IYI) has declined to participate in the commission. Kurtulmus emphasized that the commission - formed through consensus among parliamentary parties - 'will be a space where differing ideas can be debated and, ultimately, where concrete decisions serving the country's interest will be taken.' He described the commission's responsibilities as including submitting 'fulfilling responsibilities, submitting proposals to the Turkish Parliament' and helping Turkey 'become a country where terrorism is left behind.' The formation of the commission follows a symbolic gesture in early July, when 30 PKK fighters disarmed in the Kurdistan Region, in response to a February appeal by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The act was widely seen as a show of goodwill in support of the peace talks with the Turkish state. Sezai Temelli, a DEM Party lawmaker, told Rudaw on Tuesday that the commission's core task is to ensure 'legal and political guarantees for the disarmament process.' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday reiterated his support for the formation of the commission, describing it as a "first step" in the peace efforts and emphasizing his commitment to building a "terrorism-free future" for his country. In a message released in early July - just two days before the symbolic PKK disarmament - Ocalan had also expressed optimism that the commission would make 'important' contributions to peace and democracy through a 'comprehensive and inclusive approach.' While the PKK has begun disarmament efforts, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) - an umbrella organization that includes the PKK - has called for reciprocal action from the Turkish government. Cemil Bayik, senior PKK commander and co-chair of the KCK executive council, stated on Thursday that the group is not seeking amnesty but rather 'constitutional changes' that would benefit 'all democratic forces.' Bayik argued that Turkey's constitution - adopted after the 1980 military coup - has failed to recognize minority rights and needs comprehensive reform. 'Laws in Turkey need to change, not just for the Kurds, but for all democratic forces,' he said. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state. Over the years, its focus shifted toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several of its allies.