A meeting to discuss developments in northeastern Syria was held Monday in the city of Ain al-Arab between Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leader Mazlum Abdi and a US delegation headed by US Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie.
Ambassador William Roebuck, Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, was also present.
“We discussed several issues with McKenzie, mainly the security situation at the joint border with Turkey, common coordination, future cooperation between the SDF and the anti-ISIS coalition,” Abdi told Asharq Al-Awsat after sitting down with the US delegation.
The two sides also tackled the situation in the refugee camps, the families of ISIS members and terrorist captives held by the SDF.
The meeting comes a day after Abdi warned in a interview to Asharq Al-Awsat that any attack by Turkey and its loyal factions on regions east of the Euphrates would lead to the opening of a 600-km long front in retaliation.
Abdi threatened last week that war would break out from Manbij to Idlib if Turkey moves to capture Afrin.
The US delegation’s visit coincided with the visit by US Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Ambassador James Jeffrey to Ankara.
He held talks with officials at the Turkish Foreign Ministry over the safe zone in northeast Syria, where Washington supports the SDF.
“Our viewpoints with partners at the Global Coalition were substantially identical,” Abdi said.
“We have an agreement with the US concerning the war against ISIS. The terrorist group is now in the areas of Raqqa and Deir Ezzour,” he told the US officials and leaders from the Global Coalition.
