Nechirvan Barzani and Ahmad al-Sharaa Discuss the Situation of the Kurd and Components in Syria
ARK News.. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, received a phone call on the evening of Monday, April 6, 2026, from Ahmad al-Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic.
During the call, both sides exchanged views and perspectives on the situation in the region, the latest developments in the war, and its repercussions. In this context, they stressed the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to stop the war and resolve issues through peaceful means.
Regarding the situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, emphasis was placed on the importance of maintaining security and stability. In this regard, President al-Sharaa condemned the attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region.
The conditions of the Kurd and other components in Syria, as well as relations between Syria and Iraq, along with a number of other issues of mutual interest, constituted another axis of the phone call.
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President Barzani: Targeting Unarmed Civilians in the Kurdistan Region Carries No Honor or Pride
ARK News.. Masoud Barzani issued a message on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, condemning the attack that targeted the Kurdistan Region last night, describing it as a “heinous crime and grave unjust” that struck innocent civilians without any justification.
The full text of the message reads:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
The unlawful aggression against the Kurdistan Region was repeated once again last night, and regrettably resulted in the martyrdom of two innocent civilians in the village of Zargazrawi, Erbil province, as a result of an Iranian drone attack. This act represents the height of criminality and injustice, as unarmed citizens of Kurdistan are targeted in this manner without any justification, driven by blind hatred.
The martyrdom of these two innocent citizens has filled our hearts with deep pain and sorrow. I extend my condolences and sympathy to the families and relatives of the two martyrs, praying that God grants them His vast mercy and admits them into His eternal paradise.
Targeting civilian citizens in the Kurdistan Region and causing their martyrdom carries not a single ounce of chivalry or pride. The will of the people of Kurdistan will always remain stronger than all attacks, assaults, and drones, and will never be broken. The people of Kurdistan place their trust in God and rely on the justice of their cause.
Masoud Barzani
April 7, 2026
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Human Rights Watch Warns of Ongoing Suffering of Families of Thousands of Missing in Syria
ARK News.. Human Rights Watch has warned of the continued suffering of the wives and children of more than 100,000 missing persons in Syria, due to a legal and economic vacuum stemming from the outdated personal status law, which prevents access to essential official documents required for education and healthcare.
Hiba Zayadin, a senior researcher in the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch, said: “With more than 100,000 missing in Syria, their wives face a legal and economic vacuum, while their children are deprived of the documents needed to access education and healthcare.”
Zayadin stressed in statements to the German press that this issue “is not secondary,” but must be at the core of any serious discussion on transitional justice and gender equality in post-war Syria.
According to estimates by the United Nations and Syrian human rights organizations, the number of missing persons in Syria ranges between 150,000 and 170,000, most of them men who were forcibly disappeared during the revolution years that began in 2011 and ended in January 2024.
Syria’s personal status law, issued in 1953, remains one of the most prominent challenges facing families of the missing, as it requires long waiting periods or approval from male relatives to issue a death certificate. This results in depriving wives of fundamental rights such as guardianship, inheritance, pensions, and the right to remarry.
The law also requires minor children to obtain approval from a “mandatory guardian”—usually from the father’s family—to issue any official document, a requirement that remains in place until they reach the age of eighteen.
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Peshmerga Ministry: The Blood of Our Martyrs Will Not Be in Vain
ARK News.. The Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs issued, on April 7, 2026, a strongly worded statement condemning a series of “sabotage” attacks that targeted its headquarters and residential areas using explosive-laden drones, resulting in civilian and military casualties.
The ministry said that last night, April 6, witnessed a double attack, as two explosive drones launched by what it described as “outlaw terrorist groups” targeted a Peshmerga forces headquarters within the boundaries of the Raparin administration.
It added that three explosive drones were launched from inside Iran toward the borders of Erbil province, directly targeting the house of a Peshmerga member named Musa Anwar. The attack led to the martyrdom of the serviceman and his wife inside their home.
The ministry stressed that these attacks come as part of an ongoing series targeting the stability of the Kurdistan Region and its military facilities, emphasizing: “The blood of our martyrs will not be in vain.”
The statement officially held the Islamic Republic of Iran and outlaw armed groups in Iraq responsible for these bombardment operations.
The ministry also directed an urgent call to the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, demanding the assumption of legal, security, and constitutional responsibilities to protect the country’s sovereignty and put a final end to these attacks that violate the security of the region and its citizens.
The statement concluded by offering its deep condolences to the families of the two martyrs, affirming the steadfastness of the Peshmerga forces in carrying out their national duties despite these serious security challenges.
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Child Killed, Several Injured in Explosion of War Remnant in Deir Ez-Zour
ARK News.. Local sources reported that one child was killed and four others were seriously injured on Sunday evening due to the explosion of an unexploded ordnance left behind by Iran-backed militias in the town of Abu Al-Hassan, eastern countryside of Deir Ez-Zour.
According to the sources, the blast resulted in the death of a child identified as Abdulrahman Zamel al-Manaa, while four other children sustained varying degrees of injuries, some of them severe.
The sources explained that the projectile was part of leftover munitions abandoned in the area, and the injured were transferred to a nearby medical center for treatment.
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U.S. Prepares HIMARS Rocket Systems for “Epic Fury” Operation
ARK News.. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces have begun preparing M142 HIMARS rocket systems ahead of anticipated strikes.
In an official statement, CENTCOM released a series of images showing United States Marine Corps personnel assembling and readying the advanced rocket platform, noting that these movements are part of a military operation dubbed “Epic Fury.”
The HIMARS system is regarded as one of the most powerful and effective rocket artillery platforms in the U.S. arsenal, gaining widespread recognition for its long-range capabilities and high precision in striking targets. The system officially entered service with the U.S. military in 2005.
The M142 HIMARS features advanced technical specifications, with a total weight of approximately 13,500 kilograms. It measures around 6.9 meters in length, 2.5 meters in width, and 3 meters in height.
The system is operated by a specialized three-member crew consisting of a driver, a commander, and a gunner.
According to military reports, the production cost of a single HIMARS unit is estimated at around $5 million.
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Within Six Weeks… War Against Iran Costs Israel $15 Billion
ARK News.. Israeli economic reports have revealed staggering figures regarding the cost of the military confrontation waged by Israel against Iran and Hezbollah, confirming that the financial toll has reached approximately $15 billion over the past six weeks, with expectations of a sharp increase in the coming period.
According to the Hebrew economic newspaper Calcalist, the state budget has so far borne costs amounting to 47 billion Shekels (around $15 billion) to cover war expenses since the outbreak of fighting on February 28, 2026.
In a related development, the Israeli Ministry of Defense has requested an additional allocation of 39 billion shekels (approximately $12.4 billion) to meet growing military requirements, particularly amid indications that the war could be prolonged.
According to the report, the damage has not been limited to the military sphere but has also significantly impacted the civilian sector, with the following figures recorded:
More than 26,000 compensation claims have been filed for damages caused by rocket barrages, with an estimated value ranging between $320 million and $450 million.
Between $2.1 billion and $2.3 billion has been allocated as compensation for businesses and workers whose activities were disrupted by the conflict.
Approximately $160 million has been spent on salaries for workers and employees forced to take unpaid leave.
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Masrour Barzani Condemns Attacks Targeting U.S. Consulate and Civilian Areas in Erbil
ARK News.. Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, strongly condemned the attacks targeting the U.S. Consulate General and civilian areas in Erbil, describing them as “heinous acts” carried out by terrorist militias.
In a post on the X platform, Barzani stated that this deliberate aggression poses a serious threat not only to the security of the Kurdistan Region, but also to the stability of Iraq and the wider region, stressing that the continuation of such actions is “unacceptable.”
The Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister also called on the federal government to take immediate, decisive, and tangible measures on the ground against armed groups and outlawed militias.
Barzani further emphasized that responsibility lies with Baghdad to utilize all available means to thwart these terrorist attacks and bring those involved to justice, ensuring that such blatant violations of the country’s sovereignty and security are not repeated.
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Trump Announces Destruction of Major Strategic Targets in Central Tehran
ARK News.. U.S. President Donald Trump announced, via his official social media accounts, the destruction of major strategic targets in the heart of the Iranian capital, Tehran, confirming the elimination of a large number of Iranian military commanders during the recent attacks.
The U.S. president published a video documenting massive explosion and a series of intense airstrikes targeting sites in Tehran. He accompanied it with a strongly worded comment, stating: “Many Iranian military leaders, who led poorly and foolishly, were eliminated in this major attack on Tehran, along with many other things!”
According to media sources, the phrase “along with many other things” has raised questions within intelligence and media circles. Observers suggest that the attack may have targeted covert facilities, command-and-control centers, or sensitive infrastructure whose full details have not yet been disclosed. Trump, however, limited his remarks to hinting at the scale of the extensive destruction caused by the “major” strike on the Iranian capital.
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Nearly 4,000 Civilians Killed in Syria by Explosive Remnants of War
ARK News.. On the International Day for Mine Awareness, the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the deaths of thousands of civilians in Syria due to landmines and explosive remnants of war.
According to the organization, at least 3,799 civilians have been killed in Syria—including 1,000 children and 377 women—by landmine explosions and cluster munition remnants from March 2011 through April 2026.
The report also recorded the deaths of 329 civilians, including 65 children and 29 women, since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024, amid a noticeable rise in mine-related incidents. This increase has coincided with the return of displaced persons to their areas and the resumption of agricultural activities.
According to the network, children account for approximately 26% of landmine victims, while women make up around 10%, reflecting the indiscriminate nature of these weapons.
The highest number of landmine victims was recorded in Aleppo (814 killed), followed by Raqqa (676), Deir Ez-Zour (645), Hama (342), Daraa (274), and Idlib (222).
As for cluster munition victims, 84% were concentrated in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Daraa.
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