Massoud Barzani and Mazloum Abdi meet in Erbil: Zebari

Massoud Barzani and Mazloum Abdi meet in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan — General Mazloum Abdi (left), the commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) with Massoud Barzani, a tribal leader in Iraqi Kurdistan and head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, 2024. Photo: Barzani’s Press Office

Erdogan pressures Barzani to broker deal with General Abdi for deployment of pro-Turkey Kurdish Roj or Rojava peshmerga militias in Syrian Kurdistan, insider sources say

ERBIL,— Massoud Barzani, a tribal leader in Iraqi Kurdistan and head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), held talks on Thursday with General Mazloum Abdi (the commander-in-chief of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the de facto army of the autonomous Kurdish-led administration in Syrian Kurdistan. The meeting took place in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq.

The discussions were confirmed by Hoshyar Zebari, a senior member of the KDP’s Political Bureau. Zebari, who shared details of the meeting on the social media platform X, described it as a significant step in bolstering Kurdish unity across borders.

“Today’s meeting between President Masoud Barzani and the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Erbil is an important step towards strengthening Kurdish unity and the Kurdish stance in response to the new authorities in Damascus for a peaceful political resolution. Thanks to all our allies and friends,” Zebari wrote in his post.

Al Arabiya channel reported on Friday, citing a top source in the SDF, that with the U.S. backing, Massoud Barzani aims to play a role in shaping the relationship between Turkey and Syrian Kurds, as he has strong political and economic relationships with Turkey. According to the source, General Abdi was accompanied by officials from the U.S.-led international military coalition.

Insider sources reveal that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pressuring Massoud Barzani, to broker a deal with General Abdi. The proposed agreement would involve deploying the Turkey-backed Kurdish Roj Peshmerga militias to the border regions between Kurdish SDF-held areas in Syrian Kurdistan and Turkey.

iKurd could not independently verify these claims.

The pro-Turkey Roj Peshmerga, a force of approximately 3,000 fighters, was established and financed by Barzani and remains under his command. The potential deployment is seen as a strategic move to bolster Turkey’s influence in the region and counter the presence of the SDF.

Barzani’s relationship with the Kurdish administration in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) has been historically tense. He has consistently opposed the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria and has not recognized the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in northern Syria, known as Rojava. Political analysts suggest Barzani views the region as a potential rival to his influence in Kurdish politics.

Barzani, who maintains strong ties with Turkey, has previously equated support for the PYD with support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group banned by Ankara. In March 2016, Barzani stated, “The PYD and PKK are essentially the same.”

The Barzani-led administration has enforced an embargo on Rojava for over a decade, keeping the border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan closed—a move widely seen as an effort to align with Turkey’s interests.

Meanwhile, Turkey has intensified its pressure on the SDF, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warning in December 2024 that Kurdish fighters must disarm or “be buried.” Ankara fears that the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria could inspire separatist sentiments within its own Kurdish population.

In a recent gesture toward reconciliation, Barzani sent an envoy to Rojava on January 13, 2025. Hamid Darbandi, representing Barzani, met with General Abdi to promote dialogue and explore avenues for cooperation.