Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Kurdish leaders of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), including Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmad, have engaged in "rather frank discussions" regarding the future of Syrian Kurdish areas in a reunified Syria, as reported on October 7th, 2025. The discussions, which involved US support from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, CENTCOM, and the US Embassy in Turkey, suggest a potential agreement where AANES would accept the return of Arab-majority regions like Raqqa and Deir Ezzor to Damascus in exchange for a form of local autonomy for Kurdish-majority areas. Sources indicate that the AANES leadership proposed the creation of an autonomous administrative entity limited to Kurds, signifying a departure from their original project of a vast unified autonomous region. This proposal suggests an acceptance of returning regions like Raqqa and northern Deir Ezzor to Damascus. In return, Kurdish areas, primarily in the Kobane region and border areas with Turkey in Al-Hassakah governorate, would likely be granted local autonomy in the form of locally managed municipalities, potentially including two border cantons. This management model is reportedly acceptable to both sides and their supporters, with the central government able to claim reunification and reassurance to the Sunni Arab majority, while Kurdish leaders can assert local powers and skills. Further details suggest a partial integration of the FDS (Syrian Democratic Forces) within the Syrian army, allowing them to participate in national defense and counter-terrorism efforts. However, the FDS would retain local command and operate as autonomous local security forces, with specific consideration for groups like the YPJ. Discussions also touched upon resource income, with the new Syrian government having already accepted the principle of retaining part of the income from oil fields in the Al-Raqqah region, a departure from previous policies under the Assad regime. The exact proportion and conditions for this revenue sharing remain subjects of negotiation. These developments follow earlier meetings where Syrian government officials, including Foreign Minister AsaadhshaBani and Defense Minister Murhaf Abuqasra, met with US Ambassador to Turkey Jeffry Flake and CENTCOM Commander Vadm Cooper. The AANES has expressed gratitude for the support of [@francediplo](https://twitter.com/francediplo), [@CENTCOM](https://twitter.com/CENTCOM), and [@USAMBTurkiye](https://twitter.com/USAMBTurkiye) in facilitating these dialogues. The Kurdish National Council has previously criticized the Syrian presidency's decision to ban Newroz celebrations, adding a cultural dimension to the ongoing political discussions.
