Iraqi Kurdish Leader Barzani Visits Damascus in First Such Trip Since Assad's Fall

Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at Damascus's People's Palace on August 3, 2026 — the first Kurdish leader's visit to Syria since Bashar al-Assad's fall. The two had met previously at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Syria's state news agency, SANA, said talks covered bilateral ties, economic cooperation, and regional issues.