French FM Barrot meets terrorist group SDF ringleader during Iraq visit
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot attends a press conference with his counterpart from Iraq after their meeting in Baghdad on April 23, 2025. (AFP Photo)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with Mazloum Abdi, the code name of Ferhat Abdi Sahin, a senior figure in the terrorist organization SDF and a known leader within the YPG, during a diplomatic visit to Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
🇫🇷🇮🇶 À Bagdad, avec le Premier ministre Mohammed al-Soudani et mon homologue Fouad Hussein.
Face aux tensions avec l’Iran et aux bouleversements en Syrie, la France reste engagée pour la sécurité et la stabilité de l’Irak. La troisième conférence de Bagdad en témoignera. pic.twitter.com/6ZFiX7fHgZ
— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) April 23, 2025
Barrot, following his bilateral meeting with KRG President Nechirvan Barzani, confirmed the meeting during a joint press conference, stating that he would hold discussions with Mazloum Abdi.
The meeting later took place, according to diplomatic sources.
He also held a joint conference with his counterpart, Fuad Hussein. “It is essential for Iraq not to be drawn into conflicts it did not choose,” Barrot said in the press conference.
He praised the Iraqi government’s efforts to “preserve the stability of the country.”
“We are convinced that a strong and independent Iraq is a source of stability for the entire region, which is threatened today by the conflict that started on Oct. 7 and Iran’s destabilizing activities,” Barrot added.
France has deployed troops in Iraq as part of the U.S.-led international coalition to fight Daesh, which was defeated in Iraq in 2017, although some of its cells remain active.
“We cannot allow ten years of success against terrorism to be undermined,” Barrot said, adding that France remains ready to contribute to the fight.
Barrot highlights counter-Daesh cooperation
Barrot reportedly emphasized the shared fight against Daesh as a basis for France’s cooperation with SDF terrorist organization members in the region.
“Our ties strengthened further during the fight against Daesh, as French forces fought alongside Kurdish forces,” he said. Barrot also reiterated France’s continued support for both Iraq and the KRG.
KRG and France seek deeper bilateral ties
KRG President Barzani described the talks as productive and noted that key topics included Iraq’s internal developments and regional stability.
“We value our historical relations with France and are committed to enhancing cooperation in areas such as security, economic development, and culture,” he stated.
Mazloum Abdi’s role and upcoming conference in Syria
Mazloum Abdi, also known as Mazloum Kobani, is a senior so-called commander in the SDF, an umbrella group that includes the YPG. He recently announced plans to hold a conference in Syria on April 26.
The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union.
The PKK has been involved in a four-decade-long armed campaign against Türkiye, resulting in over 40,000 deaths, including civilians.
