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US Boosts Efforts to ‘Unite Kurds’ in Eastern Euphrates

William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press
William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press
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US Boosts Efforts to ‘Unite Kurds’ in Eastern Euphrates

William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press
William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press

The US has intensified meetings with leaders from the Kurdish groups in Syria to ‘unite’ the Kurds and establish a joint civil administration and a Kurdish delegation to take part in international talks on the Syria crisis.

US Ambassador William Roebuck, who is currently the Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, met this month with leaders from the Democratic Union Party and the Movement for a Democratic Society.

Roebuck also convened with the presidency of the Kurdish National Council and commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi.

Also two days ago, he had two separate meetings with representatives of the Kurdish National Alliance in Syria and the Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the meetings discussed progress with the initiative to unite Kurdish parties following the Turkish attack and seizure of Tel Abyad and Ras al Ain.

For his part, Abdi expressed optimism while some sources ruled out any possibility of reaching a final agreement between the two parties.

Sources added that sovereign positions will likely be handled by the Democratic Union Party and the Movement for a Democratic Society. Also, a joint military command will be formed and a map will be prepared showing the deployment of fighters in certain zones.

Moreover, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed that US forces conducted a military patrol, setting off from Tal Baydar base in rural Al-Hasakah and touring the area of Al-Derbasiya. The Observatory stated that the US forces intend to take the task of protecting oil fields and pipelines in eastern Euphrates away from the “Self Defence Forces” and put SDF fighters in charge.

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Salam: $12 Billion Needed for Lebanon’s Post-War Reconstruction

Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
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Salam: $12 Billion Needed for Lebanon’s Post-War Reconstruction

Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)
Officials are seen at the roundtable on the Emergency Support Project for Lebanon. (Prime Minister’s Office)

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the cost of the country’s recovery following the latest destructive war with Israel is estimated at approximately $12 billion, stressing that the goal “is not only to rebuild, but to build back better through a more sustainable, inclusive, and transparent approach.”

Speaking at a roundtable on the “Emergency Support Project for Lebanon,” Salam outlined the urgent need for international funding to rehabilitate critical services and public infrastructure severely damaged by the war.

The event gathered diplomats from Arab, European, and Western countries, alongside representatives from global institutions and aid organizations.

“Lebanon stands at a critical crossroads,” Salam said in his opening remarks. “Despite hopes for a summer of renewal, the country is grappling with the devastating consequences of the Israeli war, which has cost many lives and crippled essential infrastructure nationwide.”

According to Salam, the Nabatieh and South Governorates suffered the most destruction, followed by parts of Mount Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs. The economic toll has been steep, with Lebanon’s real GDP contracting by 7.1% in 2024, compared to just 0.9% the previous year. Since 2020, Lebanon’s economy has shrunk by nearly 40%, deepening an already severe financial crisis.

To address this, the government launched the Lebanon Emergency Assistance Program (LEAP) initiative, a $1 billion framework designed to transition from immediate relief to long-term reconstruction.

Salam described LEAP as a transformative agenda, not merely a stopgap measure. The program focuses on restoring services, rebuilding infrastructure, and laying the foundation for climate-resilient and inclusive recovery.

LEAP prioritizes transparency and regional equity, with mechanisms across ministries to ensure aid reaches the communities most in need. “This is not a project Lebanon can undertake alone,” Salam said. “We are calling for coordinated international support within a unified, state-led framework that strengthens national institutions and rebuilds public trust.”

“The collapse of Lebanon’s financial sector is not just due to crisis,” he added, “but to years of poor governance and impunity. Meaningful reform is no longer optional, it is essential.”

In a related development, Salam revealed that over 500 weapons depots in southern Lebanon have been dismantled as part of broader efforts to restore state authority. He also confirmed enhanced security at Beirut’s international airport, while reiterating calls on Israel to halt its attacks and withdraw from disputed border areas.