Omed Khoshnaw: Kurdistan Region Has Been Subjected to Over 500 Attacks
ARK News.. Erbil Governor Omid Khoshnaw confirmed that the Kurdistan Region has been subjected to a series of unjustified attacks, stressing that statements of condemnation are no longer sufficient to stop these violations.
During a press conference held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, Khoshnaw stated: “There is no logical or legal justification for the attacks being carried out against the Kurdistan Region.”
He revealed the scale of the targeting, noting that “more than 500 unjust attacks have been carried out so far.”
Khoshnaw warned that “these hostile acts cannot be resolved or brought to an end merely through statements and expressions of condemnation.”
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Masrour Barzani and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani Discuss Regional Developments
ARK News.. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani held a phone call on Thursday, April 2, 2026, with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, during which they discussed the overall situation in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region.
During the call, both sides expressed their condemnation of terrorist attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region and Qatar, and voiced deep concern over the escalating pace of war and tensions in the region, stressing the importance of preserving peace, security, and stability.
The two sides shared the view that militias and outlaw groups pose a serious threat and danger, underscoring the need for the Iraqi government to assert control over them.
For his part, the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability, highlighting the need to take these threats and risks into account.
The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister reaffirmed the Region’s solidarity with the Qatari people, and both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining communication and continuing coordination to overcome current challenges and obstacles.
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Syrian Interior Ministry Begins Receiving Applications to Restore Citizenship for Kurds
ARK News.. The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the start of receiving applications for Syrian citizenship for those covered under Legislative Decree No. (13) of 2026, concerning the restoration of citizenship to members of the Kurdish component, effective Monday, April 6, as part of the first phase of implementing the decree.
Assistant Minister of Interior for Civil Affairs, Ziad al-Ayesh, said in a statement issued on April 1, 2026, that designated committees and centers will begin receiving applications in several governorates, including Damascus, Aleppo, Hasaka, Raqqa, and Deir Ez-Zour, to ensure an organized process.
Al-Ayesh explained that the first phase will focus on receiving and reviewing applications in accordance with legal procedures, in preparation for completing the necessary steps to grant citizenship.
It is worth noting that the transitional Syrian president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, issued Legislative Decree No. (13) on December 16, stipulating the annulment of all exceptional laws and measures resulting from the 1962 census in Hasaka governorate, and granting Syrian citizenship to citizens of Kurdish origin residing in the country, including those unregistered in civil records.
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President Barzani Congratulates on Akitu and Hopes for an End to War in the Region
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani congratulated people on the annual Akitu festival on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, expressing hope that peace will prevail across the world.
President Barzani’s Message on the Occasion of Akitu:
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
On the occasion of Akitu, I extend my warmest congratulations and blessings to our Chaldean, Syriac, and Assyrian brothers and sisters in Kurdistan, Iraq, and throughout the world, wishing them continued joy and happiness.
We hope that war and turmoil will remain far from our region, and that peace, prosperity, and happiness will prevail throughout the entire world.
Masoud Barzani
April 1, 2026
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Over 200,000 People Entered Syria in Less Than a Month
ARK News.. The Acting Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Syria announced that more than 200,000 people entered Syria through three official border crossings between March 2 and 27, including over 28,000 Lebanese nationals.
Speaking during a UN press conference in Geneva via video link from Damascus, Acting Representative Aseel al-Mudhaien stated that around 180,000 of the returnees are Syrians, “including refugees who had previously fled to Lebanon in search of safety and are now forced to leave again, as well as Syrians who had been considering returning home for some time.”
She noted that about half of the Syrians interviewed by the agency intend to remain in Syria permanently despite economic challenges and limited services, while others are planning only temporary stays.
Al-Mudhaien added that most returnees are heading to areas where relatives live or to rented housing, while smaller numbers of Lebanese nationals and Syrian Palestinians crossed the border as part of mixed families.
She called for urgent support for the agency, noting that funding for its operations in Syria currently covers no more than 30% of the estimated $324 million required for 2026, according to the official UN website.
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Remains of Around Nine Individuals Found in Countryside of Hasaka
ARK News.. The remains of approximately nine individuals were discovered in the vicinity of a detention site known as “al-Kum Al-Seeni Prison” in the al-Shaddadi area of Hasaka countryside, following a response by teams from the National Commission for the Missing, in cooperation with the Syrian Civil Defense, to a report indicating exposed human remains at the site.
In a statement published via its official platforms, the Commission said that some of the remains were found in a mixed condition, noting that the operation comes as part of national and humanitarian efforts aimed at uncovering the fate of missing persons and ensuring the rights of victims and their families.
The Commission explained that specialized teams worked to recover the remains in accordance with precise procedures that ensure their preservation, while adhering to established protocols in such cases, contributing to the professional documentation of evidence.
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Al-Sharaa and Starmer Discuss Strengthening Syria–UK Bilateral Relations
ARK News.. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his official visit to the United Kingdom, in the presence of Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Minister of Economy Nidal al-Sh’aar.
During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations in a manner that serves the mutual interests of both countries, stressing the importance of advancing cooperation in the fields of development and investment. They also addressed the latest regional and international developments.
Following the meeting, President Ahmad al-Sharaa departed the UK government headquarters in London after holding talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Earlier in the day, the Syrian president had arrived at 10 Downing Street to meet with Starmer.
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Syrian and Turkish Foreign Ministers Discuss Escalating Regional Developments
ARK News.. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani discussed with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan the latest developments amid escalating tensions in the region during a phone call.
According to the Anadolu Agency, sources at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the call addressed aspects of the ongoing conflict in the region, as well as recent developments in Syria and Lebanon.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held the phone conversation with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani last Wednesday, as part of diplomatic efforts focused on regional developments.
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35th Anniversary of the Million-Person Exodus of the People of the Kurdistan Region
ARK News.. Today marks the 35th anniversary of the million-person exodus of the people of the Kurdistan Region, a pivotal station in modern Kurdish history that embodied the resilience of a people who refused to return to the shackles of oppression and chose displacement toward the mountains and borders in one of the largest waves of human migration in the 20th century.
Following the historic success of the spring 1991 uprising, which resulted in the liberation of most cities and areas of the Kurdistan Region from the grip of the former Ba’ath regime, the latter mobilized massive military forces to regain control over the liberated areas. On March 31, 1991—ten days after the liberation of the city of Kirkuk—the regime launched a large-scale offensive, placing hundreds of thousands of citizens before two choices: either remain and endure repression and subjugation once again, or leave their homes.
The Kurds chose the difficult option; massive human waves headed toward the Iranian and Turkish borders, on foot or using primitive means of transport, in a scene that shook the global conscience and later became known as the “Million Exodus.”
The exodus was not merely an escape from war; it turned into enormous international pressure. France played a key role in mobilizing support within the United Nations Security Council, while Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of the then French president, emerged as a strong voice advocating for the Kurdish cause.
These efforts resulted in the issuance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 on April 5, 1991, which condemned the repression practiced against civilians. Diplomatic efforts, supported by James Baker, advisor to President George H. W. Bush, also led to the establishment of the 36th parallel as a no-fly zone and safe haven, which directly contributed to halting acts of genocide against the Kurdish people.
Thanks to the safe haven decision and the intervention of coalition forces—known as Operation Provide Comfort and stationed at "Incirlik" Air Base—confidence gradually returned to the displaced populations. With calls from the Kurdistan Front and subsequent negotiations, the million-strong return to cities and villages began.
The no-fly zone was not merely a military protection measure; it became the cornerstone that allowed the Kurds to organize their internal affairs away from the regime’s threats. This paved the way for the first parliamentary elections on May 19, 1992, and the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government on July 4 of the same year.
The 35th anniversary of the million-person exodus remains a symbol of Kurdish sacrifice. While the regime’s policies aimed to break the will of the people, this ordeal turned into international recognition of Kurdish rights and laid the legal and political foundations for what the Kurdistan Region represents today as a constitutional and legal entity.
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79th Anniversary of the Execution of Kurdish Leader Qazi Muhammad
ARK News.. Today, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, marks the 79th anniversary of the execution and martyrdom of the historic Kurdish leader Qazi Muhammad, the president of the Republic of Kurdistan, which was declared in 1946 in eastern Kurdistan with Mahabad as its capital.
Qazi Muhammad faced a summary trial and was executed after refusing to renounce his principles or abandon his cause. During his final days, he urged his people to continue their struggle for freedom, dignity, and justice, emphasizing steadfast resistance whatever the cost.
Responding to his death sentence, he famously declared that he had long prepared himself for such a day and embraced what he described as an honorable death for the freedom of his people, remaining true to his promise to live and die alongside them.
He was executed by hanging on March 31, 1947, along with Muhammad Hussein Khan Saif Qazi and Abdul Qassim Sadr Qazi in Chwar Chira Square—the same location where the republic had been proclaimed in January 1946.
About Qazi Muhammad
Born in 1901 in Mahabad, Qazi Muhammad emerged as one of the most prominent figures in Kurdish history. He was known for his deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and fluency in several languages, including Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, and Persian, along with familiarity with French, English, and Russian.
Despite coming from a well-off family, he remained closely connected to ordinary people, particularly the poor, advocating for their rights and addressing their social and legal concerns. He strongly supported education and cultural development as tools to resist oppression.
In the 1940s, he became a founding figure in the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, which promoted freedom within Iran and autonomy for Kurdistan.
On January 22, 1946, he officially declared the establishment of the Republic of Kurdistan. Under his leadership, Kurdish became an official language, schools and cultural institutions were established, and efforts were made to build a modern political and social system.
However, the republic was short-lived. Following failed negotiations with Tehran, Iranian forces moved to suppress the movement, ultimately bringing an end to the republic and leading to Qazi Muhammad’s execution in 1947.
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