Nechirvan Barzani Condemns Terrorist Attack That Killed French Officer in the Kurdistan Region
ARK New.. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a joint base of the Peshmerga and French forces operating within the International Coalition against ISIS in the Makhmour area last night. The attack resulted in the death of a French non-commissioned officer and the injury of several other French soldiers.
Barzani expressed his condemnation during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, March 13, 2026. During the call, he extended his heartfelt condolences—as well as those of the people of the Kurdistan Region—to President Macron, the French government and people, and the family and comrades of the fallen officer who lost his life in the fight against terrorism.
“Our hearts are with them, and we wish a swift recovery to the wounded,” Barzani said. The Kurdistan Region president also expressed his gratitude for France’s continued support and assistance to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as for the sacrifices made by French forces stationed in the region.
Barzani stressed the need for the Iraqi government to fulfill its responsibilities by preventing such attacks and holding those responsible accountable, warning that such incidents could endanger the country’s interests and its relations with the international community.
For his part, President Macron thanked Barzani for his call and for the solidarity expressed by the people of the Kurdistan Region, reaffirming that France will continue to support and assist Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
The two leaders also discussed the latest developments of the war and its repercussions across the region, emphasizing the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict and resolve disputes through peaceful means.
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Remains of Several Individuals Recovered in Village in Manbij Area, East of Aleppo
ARK News.. The Syrian Civil Defence announced the recovery of the remains of at least five individuals in the village of Al-Qashla, located in the Manbij area east of Aleppo, after receiving a report about their presence.
In a statement published on its official platforms on Thursday, March 13, 2026, the Syrian Civil Defence said its specialized teams responded to the report in coordination with the National Commission for the Missing Persons. The teams headed to the site in the presence of the public prosecutor and security authorities, where an official record was prepared, and the recovery process was supervised.
The organization added that teams responsible for removing war remnants from the National Mine Action Center at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management conducted a preliminary survey of the site before the search operations began, to ensure the area was free of mines or unexploded ordnance.
According to the statement, the remains were found scattered in an open area near a residential house. They were documented, collected, and recovered in accordance with approved protocols, in preparation for being handed over to the relevant authorities to complete the necessary procedures.
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Erbil Governor Reveals Details of Drone Attack Involving 17 Explosive UAVs
ARK News.. Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw revealed details of the recent aerial attacks targeting the city, stating that air defense systems successfully intercepted and shot down more than 15 suicide drones before they could reach their intended targets.
Khoshnaw said that during the night of Wednesday–Thursday, March 11–12, 2026, Erbil was subjected to a series of intense attacks involving 17 explosive-laden drones. He noted that the high level of vigilance and readiness of the air defense systems prevented a potential disaster, as all of the drones were intercepted and destroyed in the sky.
The governor reassured residents regarding the security situation, expressing relief that no casualties were recorded. He stressed that the safety of Erbil’s residents remains the top priority.
He added that falling debris from the intercepted drones, as well as explosions following their interception, caused limited material damage in some locations.
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22nd Anniversary of the March 12, 2004 Uprising
ARK News.. Thursday, March 12, 2026, marked the 22nd anniversary of the March 12, 2004 uprising in Syrian Kurdistan, when the Kurdish people rose against injustice, repression, and the targeting of their identity and symbols, breaking the barrier of silence in the face of the former Assad regime. The uprising resulted in more than thirty martyrs, hundreds of wounded, and thousands of detainees who were subjected to severe torture by the security services of the Assad regime.
The spark of the March 12 uprising began in the city of Qamishli in Syrian Kurdistan in 2004, following a violent incident that preceded a football match between the local team al-Jihad and al-Fituwa from Deir Ez-Zour. Before the match, dozens of vehicles carrying groups described as chauvinist supporters—brought from different areas of Syria and associated with the visiting team—gathered in the streets of Qamishli. According to accounts, they marched through the city carrying images of Saddam Hussein, chanting slogans and directing insults toward Kurds and their national symbols.
Despite the presence of security forces at the entrances to the municipal stadium, those groups reportedly entered carrying sticks, knives, and stones without inspection, while Kurdish supporters of Al-Jihad were subjected to strict searches.
Before the match began, clashes erupted when stones were thrown toward the Kurdish crowd, and insults were exchanged. Security forces inside the stadium were also reported to have targeted Kurdish spectators.
When news spread across the city that the match had been postponed—following reports broadcast in a sports program that residents said misrepresented the events—thousands of people headed toward the stadium to check on their relatives. Security forces prevented them from entering as shouting, clashes, and gunfire were reportedly heard inside.
At that time, the governor of Hasakah, Salim Kabboul, who headed the province’s security committee, arrived at the scene. According to eyewitness accounts, security forces opened fire on civilians, leading to the deaths of four people and injuries to dozens more. That night, Qamishli witnessed protests and confrontations between demonstrators and security forces, followed by widespread raids and arrests.
On March 13, thousands of Kurdish residents participated in the funeral procession for the four victims, whose bodies were wrapped in the Kurdistan flag. Tensions escalated again when security forces reportedly demanded the removal of the flags. When mourners refused, gunfire broke out once more, resulting in additional deaths and injuries.
The events then escalated into a widespread uprising in Qamishli, where protesters attacked and set fire to security headquarters and raised Kurdistan flags across parts of the city. The unrest soon spread to other Kurdish cities, including Amouda, Derbasiya, Sari Kaniye, Tirbaspiye, Girke Lage, Derik, Kobani, and Afrin, and extended to Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo and Damascus.
According to accounts from activists and participants, more than 33 people were killed during the uprising and in the aftermath, including individuals who died under torture in Syrian regime prisons in Hasaka and Damascus. Others were reportedly killed during their compulsory military service, bringing the total number of victims to more than 40.
The March 12, 2004 uprising—driven by accumulated grievances, political marginalization, and decades of repression under the rule of Hafez al-Assad and later Bashar al-Assad—began spontaneously, largely led by Kurdish youth from different backgrounds. Men, women, and children joined the demonstrations in what participants describe as a moment of Kurdish unity.
Many observers view the uprising as a significant turning point in the Kurdish political movement in Syria and a precursor to the broader protests that began in March 2011 in the city of Daraa and later spread across the country, including to Qamishli, Amuda, Derik, and Afrin.
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Antonio Tajani: Attack on Italian Military Base in Erbil “Unacceptable”
ARK News.. The Italian government strongly condemned the attack targeting the Italian military base in Erbil, describing the incident as “unacceptable.”
Antonio Tajani said he held a phone call with Italy’s ambassador to Iraq to assess the repercussions of the attack and ensure the safety of the Italian diplomatic and military personnel stationed in the area.
Tajani reassured the Italian public that all soldiers at the base are safe and none were injured, noting that they had taken shelter in reinforced bunkers immediately after the attack.
He also expressed his full solidarity and deep appreciation for the Italian forces deployed there, praising their courage and dedication in carrying out their daily duties in service of their country within the framework of international missions in the Kurdistan Region.
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FBI Warns of Potential Iranian Drone Attack on California
ARK News.. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned law enforcement agencies in the U.S. state of California about the possibility that Iran could launch a drone attack against the west coast of the United States in response to recent U.S. military strikes.
According to a report published by ABC News, the warning appeared in a security bulletin reviewed by the network and circulated among law enforcement agencies in California in recent days amid concerns about a potential Iranian response to ongoing military operations.
The bulletin stated: “We recently obtained information indicating that, as of early February 2026, Iran was allegedly seeking to carry out a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles launched from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast, specifically targeting unspecified locations in California.”
The notice added that no additional details are currently available regarding the timing, method of execution, intended targets, or possible actors involved in the suspected attack.
The warning comes as the administration of Donald Trump continues military operations against Iran, while Tehran has carried out drone attacks against targets in several parts of the Middle East.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s office in Los Angeles declined to comment on the content of the warning, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, John Cohen said the possibility that drone warfare could extend to U.S. territory is a serious concern. He noted that Iran “maintains a broad presence in Mexico and South America and possesses relationships and capabilities related to drone operations, as well as a potential motive to carry out such attacks.”
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Tom Barrack: Donald Trump Kept His Promise to Give Syria a Chance
ARK News.. Tom Barrack stated that the reactivation of the account of the Central Bank of Syria at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was the result of effective coordination between Washington and Damascus.
In a post on X on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Barrack said the account had been reactivated for the first time since 2011, describing the move as a step forward in the path of cooperation between the United States and Syria.
Barrack added that Donald Trump “kept his promise to give Syria a chance,” noting that coordination between the two governments in recent months has produced “tangible results.”
On February 28, the Syrian central bank announced that it had completed procedures to settle its banking relations with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and reopened its account, a move seen as institutional progress toward reorganizing Syria’s external financial relations and strengthening its integration into the global financial system.
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Erbil Targeted by Nearly 200 Explosive Drones, Governor Says
ARK News.. Omed Khoshnaw announced that the capital of the Kurdistan Region has been targeted by nearly 200 explosive drones since the escalation of tensions began, noting that all of them were successfully intercepted.
According to Kurdistan24, Khoshnaw said on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, that while an exact figure is not yet available, estimates indicate that around 200 explosive drones were launched toward the city of Erbil.
He added that all drones targeting the city were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems operated by the International Coalition, preventing them from reaching their targets.
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Kurdish National Council Statement Marking the 22nd Anniversary of the March 12 Uprising
ARK News.. The Kurdish National Council in Syria issued a statement marking the 22nd anniversary of the historic Qamishlo Uprising, emphasizing that one of the most important lessons of the uprising was the spirit of unity demonstrated by Kurdish masses and political forces across different regions—an unity that thwarted attempts by the regime to incite division between Kurds and other national components.
Below is the translated text of the statement:
On March 12, 2004, the Kurdish people in Syria marked a significant milestone in their struggle for freedom and dignity when they rose up against repression and tyranny following the massacre carried out by the security apparatus of the Assad regime in the city of Qamishlo after incidents during a football match at the municipal stadium. The attack targeted unarmed civilians and ignited widespread protests that spread across Kurdish regions.
The uprising was not a passing event; rather, it represented a clear expression of rejection of discriminatory and exclusionary policies and a firm declaration of the Kurdish people’s commitment to their national and democratic rights within a free, democratic, and decentralized Syria.
As the Kurdish National Council in Syria commemorates this historic uprising—now recognized as the Day of the Kurdish Martyr—it affirms that the sacrifices of its martyrs remain a sacred trust. They are martyrs of freedom and dignity for all Syrians, as their uprising fundamentally rejected the system of authoritarianism and dictatorship that Syrians of all communities endured.
The council reiterated its commitment to rejecting hate speech, strengthening the values of citizenship, and promoting healthy social relations among the components of the Syrian people. It also emphasized dialogue and negotiation as the path for addressing national issues, away from violence and armed conflict, with the aim of building a pluralistic, democratic, and decentralized Syrian state that guarantees the rights of all its components under a constitution ensuring partnership and equality.
Politically, the council called on the transitional administration in Damascus to open a serious dialogue with representatives of the Kurdish people in order to address the Kurdish issue in Syria as a fundamental national question and to remove the consequences of decades-long discriminatory policies against Kurds.
The council also stressed the need to end the effects of demographic change and to guarantee the safe and dignified return of displaced people to their homes in Sari Kaniye, Gire Spi, and Afrin, as well as to reveal the fate of the missing and release detainees.
The statement emphasized that one of the most important lessons of the March uprising remains the spirit of unity among the Kurdish masses and political forces, which at the time thwarted regime attempts to sow discord between Kurds and other national components. In this context, the council reaffirmed the importance of Kurdish unity and strengthening it in line with the current developments facing the country and Kurdish regions, while preventing any single party from monopolizing decisions regarding the future of the Kurdish people.
In conclusion, the council called on the Kurdish public to commemorate the martyrs of the uprising in a manner befitting their sacrifices—by lighting candles on the evening of March 11, observing five minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m. on March 12 in public spaces, and holding commemorative events in their honor.
Glory and eternity to the martyrs of the March 12 uprising and to the martyrs of freedom and dignity.
Shame and disgrace to the killers and criminals.
General Secretariat
Kurdish National Council in Syria
March 11, 2026
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President Barzani: March 11 Agreement Is the Result of the Resolute Struggle Led by the Immortal Barzani
ARK News.. Masoud Barzani affirmed that the March 11, 1970 Agreement was not merely a political document, but rather the major outcome of the struggle and sacrifices of the September Revolution, the Peshmerga Forces, and all segments of the people of Kurdistan.
In a message marking the 56th anniversary of the agreement, Barzani stated that the March 11 Agreement “was the result of that resolute and comprehensive struggle launched under the leadership of the immortal Mustafa Barzani, aimed at restoring the rights of the people of Kurdistan and achieving democracy in Iraq.”
Barzani noted that the strength of the revolution and the determination of the Kurdish people ultimately compelled the Iraqi government at the time to officially recognize, for the first time, part of the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people, describing the agreement as a major turning point in contemporary history.
He also expressed deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by Peshmerga fighters, revolutionaries, and patriots who stood firm in the struggle to secure this historic achievement, emphasizing that their sacrifices laid the foundation for the current status of the Kurdistan Region.
Barzani concluded his message by reaffirming national principles, stating: “On this anniversary, we renew our commitment to protecting our achievements and upholding the message of peace and coexistence embraced by the people of Kurdistan,” while paying tribute to the martyrs of the September Revolution and all those who sacrificed their lives on the path to freedom in Kurdistan.
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