Kurdistan Region President Barzani meets Syria's al-Sharaa in Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani traveled to the Syrian capital on an official invitation and met with transitional government Prime Minister Ahmed al-Sharaa, both sides said. The talks covered bilateral ties, border security, economic cooperation and the Kurdistan Region's relations with Kurdish structures in Syria. The meeting in Damascus is the latest in a series of contacts between the Kurdistan Region and Syria's new administration following last year's change of government in Damascus. Officials described the encounter as part of an effort to build a formal channel of dialogue between Erbil and the transitional authorities. According to the two sides, the leaders agreed to establish a mechanism for reciprocal visits in the near future and to continue coordination on issues of mutual concern. No further details on the timing of follow-up meetings were immediately available.