Syria’s Kurdish-backed council holds talks in Damascus – official

The Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) is holding talks with Syrian government officials in Damascus this week, SDC co-chair Riad Darar said on Friday. Also attending the talks are representatives of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. The event marks the first declared SDC visit to Damascus. The delegation is led by top Syrian Kurdish official Ilham Ahmad, Darar said in Vienna. “There could be some political and some security meetings,” the official was quoted as saying. The Kurdish-led authorities control roughly one quarter of Syria. Their visit points to moves to open channels to Damascus as they seek to negotiate a political deal that preserves their autonomy, Reuters reports.