SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi: “Meeting with Abdullah Öcalan would be a great honor”

ZALIN (QAMISHLI), North and East Syria — In a wide-ranging interview with the Turkish newspaper Yeni Özgür Politika, Mazloum Abdi, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), described a reported request from Abdullah Öcalan to meet him as “a great source of honor and happiness.” 

Abdi, a key military and political figure in North and East Syria, touched on several pressing issues during the interview, including the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the future of the SDF, and the group’s relationship with the Syrian government and neighboring Turkey. 

Speaking on the regional implications of the Iran-Israel war, Abdi warned that the conflict was dragging the Middle East into “a new spiral of violence,” and called for dialogue and negotiation to resolve underlying tensions. 

When asked about the SDF’s relations with the Druze community in Syria, Abdi emphasized the strength of their ties. “Our relationship with the Druze is solid, just like our relationships with all other Syrian communities,” he said, voicing support for their demands for equal rights in a reimagined Syria and calling for all ethnic and religious groups to be recognized in a future national constitution. 

On the issue of Turkish-controlled areas in northern Syria, particularly Cafrin (Afrin) and Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ain), Abdi reaffirmed his stance that Turkish-backed armed groups must be removed. “The people of these regions must be allowed to return safely to their homes and reclaim their confiscated properties,” he said. 

Turning to the future of the SDF, Abdi revealed that discussions have already taken place with what he referred to as the “new Syrian government” regarding the integration of the SDF into Syria’s national armed forces. He insisted that the SDF should eventually be part of a restructured Syrian army, operating under the Ministry of Defense. He also spoke of efforts to unify military institutions across the country. 

But it was the mention of Öcalan — the jailed Kurdish leader and founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — that sparked the most personal response. When asked about Öcalan’s alleged desire to meet him, Abdi said such an encounter would be deeply meaningful. “Meeting the leader would be a great honor and source of joy for me,” he said. “It would be a moment of profound significance, and I believe it would contribute meaningfully to resolve the Kurdish issue.” 

Öcalan has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999. Any meeting with Abdi would mark a major political development and could carry significant implications for the Kurdish movement both in Turkey and in the broader region.