Al-Monitor discusses anticipated historic meeting between Kobani and Barzani
The anticipated meeting represents a historic opportunity to unify Kurdish efforts in the region and strengthen cooperation with Washington to face increasing regional challenges
January 15, 2025, 7:12 pm

Al-Monitor discusses anticipated historic meeting between Kobani and Barzani

الزعيم الكُردي مسعود بارزاني يؤكد دعمه للشعب الكُردي في سوريا

The American envoy is preparing to arrange an exceptional meeting between Mazloum Kobani, commander of the Pentagon-allied Syrian Democratic Forces in combating ISIS, and Masoud Barzani, former president of Iraq's Kurdistan Region and the most prominent Kurdish figure globally, according to three informed sources who spoke to Al-Monitor.

The sources explained that the meeting will be held this week at Barzani's elevated headquarters overlooking Erbil, following Barzani's sending of his delegate Hamid Darbandi to meet Kobani in northeastern Syria on Monday.

The significance of this first-of-its-kind meeting emerges in the Biden administration's efforts to reduce tensions between the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Barzani, which controls the Kurdistan Regional Government, and their Syrian Kurdish partners, as part of comprehensive American efforts to prevent further escalation between Ankara and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The dramatic changes in Syria with the collapse of the Assad regime have become an additional factor pushing toward finding urgent solutions for all concerned parties.

Ankara continues its threats, with Erdogan making provocative statements on Wednesday, threatening the People's Protection Units with a new military operation if they don't disarm.

A Syrian Kurdish official told Al-Monitor that Turkish forces have switched from using drones to fighter jets since Monday to support the Turkish-backed "Syrian National Army" groups in their failed battles.

The chances of success for the American initiative appear promising amid accelerating regional developments, especially with the increasing need to unify Kurdish ranks in facing common challenges.

Levant-Al-Monitor

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”