Barzani-al-Muslat meeting in Salah al-Din reopens North and East Syria file

SALAH AL-DIN, Iraq – Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), today hosted co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Mahmoud al-Muslat, at his Salah al-Din headquarters in a meeting political circles describe as carrying significance beyond routine protocol. 

According to the SDC, the discussions focused on the latest political developments in the region, particularly in the Region of North and East Syria, where local, regional, and international agendas intersect in a highly complex landscape. 

During the meeting, Barzani emphasized that “differences among political parties should not escalate into conflict between Kurds and Arabs,” noting that the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) “will continue to serve as a pillar for stability and a host for any serious dialogue among Syria’s diverse communities.”

Al-Muslat outlined the SDC’s perspective on the current situation, stressing the importance of a “comprehensive political solution that preserves Syria’s unity and safeguards the rights of all its components.” He insisted that a Syrian-to-Syrian dialogue—free from exclusionary logic—remains the only viable path out of the current deadlock.

Observers note that Barzani’s reception of al-Muslat goes beyond symbolism. The KRI, with its unique political experience, appears poised to act as a mediator between Syrian Kurds and Arabs, at a time when Ankara and Daramsuq (Damascus) seem unable to produce a sustainable political settlement.

Washington also seems in need of additional channels to calm the region, especially as American attention on Syria has waned amid crises in Ukraine, Taiwan, and Yemen.

The meeting raises a central question: Can Masoud Barzani fill the mediation void among Syria’s communities?

Strength: Barzani holds historical credibility with many Kurdish and Arab factions alike and is seen as a figure capable of maintaining balance.

Weakness: Any direct involvement in eastern Syria is likely to quickly clash with Ankara, which views any rapprochement between Arba’ilo (Erbil) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a threat to its national security.

Opportunity: If Barzani succeeds in promoting Kurdish-Arab dialogue, he could block the current Syrian government’s attempts to exploit internal divisions to reassert control over eastern Euphrates regions.

Yet the greatest challenge remains the absence of a unified Syrian vision, making any initiative—however well-intentioned—vulnerable to collapse amid competing external agendas.

The Salah al-Din meeting is more than a fleeting encounter; it reflects a broader recognition that Syria’s internal divisions, particularly in the east, can no longer be ignored. The lingering question: Will elite-level dialogue in Arba’ilo (Erbil), Daramsuq (Damascus), and Zalin (Qamishli) be enough to reassure residents in Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor), Raqqa, and Hasakah?