Barak: Integration of SDF into Syrian Structure Discussed at U.S.-Turkey-Syria Meeting

U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barak said on Thursday that the trilateral meeting bringing together the foreign ministers of the United States, Turkey, and Syria discussed ways to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the new Syrian national framework, including economic, defense, and civil structures.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Barak stated that the session — which included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani — marked “a pivotal milestone in defining the outlines of the next phase of the U.S.-Turkish-Syrian framework.”

He added that the meeting also addressed “the redefinition of Turkish-Syrian-Israeli relations, the strengthening of understandings supporting the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and the resolution of border-related issues concerning Lebanon.”

Barak confirmed that Damascus would begin contributing to efforts aimed at “combating and dismantling the remnants of ISIS, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, and Hezbollah,” noting that the next step involves “the complete repeal of the Caesar Act to help reactivate the Syrian economy.”

He urged the U.S. Congress to take what he called a “historic step” to empower the new Syrian government to “rebuild its economy and strengthen regional stability.”