ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - President Masoud Barzani on Sunday held a phone call with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi where the pair discussed the steps for implementing the recent agreement between the Kurdish-led force and Damascus.

During the call, “the latest developments in Syria and the steps for implementing the agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces were discussed. Emphasis was also placed on resolving problems and issues through dialogue and establishing peace and stability in Syria,” read a statement from Barzani Headquarters. 

The SDF announced on Friday that it had reached a “comprehensive agreement” with Damascus to see a phased integration process of the Kurdish-led forces into the Syrian state after weeks-long clashes between the two sides.

Abdi has previously hailed the Kurdistan Region’s leaders for their support in reaching the agreement.

President Barzani also discussed implementing the agreement with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa a day earlier.

While discussing the next steps of the deal, Barzani and Sharaa emphasized “the necessity of establishing peace and stability in Syria, and it was reaffirmed that dialogue and understanding are the only way to resolve problems and disputes.”

The recent clashes between Kurdish-led forces and Damascus-affiliated factions broke out after a year of tensions regarding a prospective integration agreement, with Rojava (northeast Syria) authorities remaining hesitant in light of sectarian massacres perpetrated by state forces against the country's Druze and Alawite minorities.

The Syrian offensive in Rojava has left hundreds dead and forced Kurdish-led forces, who did the brunt of defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) in the country, to cede swathes of territory and withdraw to Hasakah province, with the attacking Syrian forces violating ceasefires, committing human rights violations, and possibly war crimes in their campaign.