Kurdistan Region president to visit Damascus for talks with Syria's Sharaa

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani will travel to Damascus for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, according to Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency. Shahab said the visit was being coordinated with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi and was aimed at strengthening cooperation between Iraq and Syria and supporting regional stability. Shahab described the trip as a continuation of contacts that began with earlier meetings between Barzani and al-Sharaa at the Munich Conference, two conferences held in Antalya and additional talks held in 2025 and 2026. He said the agenda would cover security, economic and political issues, with emphasis on border security and regional stability. The spokesperson noted that the Kurdistan Region has hosted Syrian refugees since 2011 and said the refugee file would be raised during the discussions. Shahab added that Barzani has mediated between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, working with international parties to back stability efforts. Shahab said a series of intensive meetings with Syrian officials is planned during the visit. No further details on the date of the trip were immediately available.