U.S. Special Envoy to Syria and Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, joined Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Adm. Brad Cooper on a visit to Northeastern Syria earlier today, where they met with Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The visit comes amid rising tensions and recent skirmishes between the SDF, the Syrian Army, and Turkish-backed paramilitary groups, as Damascus continues efforts to absorb Kurdish and other non-state militias into Syria’s Armed Forces and Interior Ministry.