Nechirvan Barzani and Irfan Siddiq Discuss Political Process in Iraq
ARK News.. Continuing his meetings in Baghdad, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, with Irfan Siddiq, the British Ambassador to Iraq.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the political process in the country, steps to form the new federal government, and the outcomes of Barzani’s meetings with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad, as well as the internal situation in the Kurdistan Region and regional developments.
Both sides agreed on the importance of coordination and joint cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi parties to ensure the success of the political process and the formation of the upcoming federal government in a way that reflects citizens’ aspirations and is capable of addressing challenges and safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.
The ambassador affirmed that the United Kingdom attaches great importance to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, stressing its commitment to continuing support for both. For his part, Barzani expressed his appreciation for British support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
The repercussions of the war in the region, along with a number of issues of mutual interest, also formed another axis of the meeting.
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Kurdistan Region PM and UAE Foreign Minister Hold Phone Call
ARK News.. A phone call was held on Monday evening, May 4, 2026, between the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, and the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two sides stressed the importance of preserving security, peace, and stability in the region.
During the call, Barzani and the UAE foreign minister discussed the general situation in the region and ways to enhance bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United Arab Emirates.
They also condemned the recent attacks targeting the UAE and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regional security and stability, as well as the need to put an end to such attacks.
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Heavy Clashes Erupt on Western Fronts of Suwayda
ARK Nesw.. Local sources reported that the western outskirts of Suwayda witnessed intense clashes between Internal Security Forces and the so-called “National Guard,” with both sides using heavy weaponry.
According to the local outlet Suwayda 24, the fighting broke out in the early hours of Monday, May 4, 2026, after elements from the “National Guard,” affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri, targeted internal security positions in the areas of Rima Hazem and Walgha.
The report added that both sides exchanged shelling using medium and heavy weapons, alongside extensive use of heavy machine guns and mortar fire across multiple axes in the western countryside of the province.
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Peshmerga Ministry Denies Halt of U.S. Aid, Confirms Continued Support
ARK News.. The Ministry of Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government has denied reports claiming that United States support for its forces has been suspended, affirming that financial and logistical support is ongoing under a fixed timetable.
The current memorandum of understanding (MoU) is set to expire in September. In a statement released on Sunday, 3 May 2026, the ministry said, "For several days, there have been rumors circulating that the US is stopping its support for the Peshmerga.
These reports are false, and the support process is ongoing in accordance with the joint memorandum of understanding signed by the US Department of Defense and the Ministry of Peshmerga, which aims at advancing the reform and unification of the Peshmerga forces.
The statement added: 'The aid that has stopped is only that related to the war against ISIS due to the group’s diminished presence and reduced activity in recent months.
It further noted: “As for U.S. financial and logistical assistance, it continues under a specific schedule.
The current Memorandum of Understanding is set to expire in September 2026. It is expected that negotiations for a new Memorandum of Understanding will begin in the near future."
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Nechirvan Barzani Visits Baghdad for Talks with Coordination Framework Leaders
ARK News.. Nechirvan Barzani is visiting Baghdad on Monday, May 4, 2026, where he is scheduled to hold meetings with leaders of the Coordination Framework.
Barzani is making the visit in his capacity as president of the Kurdistan Region and deputy leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The talks are expected to focus on the formation of Iraq’s new federal government.
At the same time, discussions will also address the outcomes of recent meetings held by Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi with Kurdish political parties.
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After 11 Years in Captivity, Yezidi Girl Freed from ISIS
ARK News.. The Office for the Rescue of Kidnapped Yazidis announced the liberation of a Yezidi woman after more than 11 years of captivity by the terrorist organization ISIS, which had abducted her during its attack on Sinjar in the summer of 2014.
In a statement, the office said the survivor, Jamila Bapir Hajim, from the Til Qasab complex, had been kidnapped along with members of her family during displacement and subsequent captivity. She has now been reunited with her relatives in what was described as a deeply emotional humanitarian moment.
According to official statistics released by the office, the total of 6,417 Yezidis have been abducted since the beginning of the genocide. So far, 3,594 have been rescued, while the fate of thousands remains unknown, amid ongoing calls for intensified international and local efforts to resolve this humanitarian file.
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Israeli Army Issues Urgent Evacuation Warning to Residents of 11 Villages in Southern Lebanon
ARK News.. The Israel Defense Forces issued a new “urgent warning” calling for the evacuation of villages located outside the “security zone” it has established in southern Lebanon.
The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, published a statement on platform “X” addressed to residents of eleven towns in southern Lebanon, some of them in Nabatiye Governorate, located several kilometers north of the Litani River, which marks the boundary of the “security zone” where Israel continues its operations following the entry into force of a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah on April 17, 2026.
Adraee wrote, "Urgent warning to residents of Lebanon located in the following towns and villages: Dhueir, Arab Salim, Sharqiyah (Nabatiye), Jibshit, Bara’achit, Srifa, Duneen, Breq’a, Qa’qaiyat al-Jisr, Qsaiba (Nabatiye), Kfar Seer (…) For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away to open areas.”
Meanwhile, Eyal Zamir, chief of staff of the Israeli army, warned on Wednesday during a visit to forces deployed in southern Lebanon that “any threat, anywhere, against our communities or our forces, including beyond the Blue Line and north of the Litani (about 30 kilometers from the border), will be eliminated.”
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CENTCOM: 48 Vessels Prevented from Entering or Leaving Iranian Ports
ARK News.. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that 48 vessels attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports have been blocked or redirected over the past 20 days, as part of the maritime blockade imposed by Washington since April 12.
CENTCOM said in a statement posted on the platform “X” that these measures are aimed at ensuring full compliance with restrictions imposed on Iran’s coastline and the Strait of Hormuz, following the breakdown of peace talks in Pakistan.
For his part, Donald Trump stressed the continuation of escalation, affirming that the United States will not end the confrontation prematurely, stating: “Time is on our side.”
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The content of the meeting between President Barzani, Ali al-Zaidi, and the accompanying delegation from the Coordination Framework
ARK News... Masoud Barzani met with Ali al-Zaidi on Saturday, May 2, 2026, to discuss recent regional developments, emphasizing the need to resolve outstanding issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region in accordance with the constitution.
During the meeting, Barzani stressed that adherence to and implementation of the constitution remains the optimal path toward stability, calling on all parties to commit to constitutional principles.
The talks also underscored the importance of expediting the formation of the federal government in line with electoral entitlements and constitutional timelines.
For his part, al-Zaidi highlighted the need to overcome past challenges and open a new chapter in relations between Baghdad and Erbil.
He also called on the parliamentary and governmental blocs of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to return and actively participate in the political process and the formation of the federal government.
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Syrian Interior Ministry Announces Seizure of 1 Million Captagon Pills in Border Area with Lebanon
ARK News.. The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the dismantling of an international drug trafficking network in the Damascus countryside and the seizure of approximately one million narcotic pills in its possession.
In a statement published via its official channels, the ministry said that the Anti-Narcotics Directorate carried out a series of complex and specialized security operations, which resulted in dismantling an international trafficking link, uncovering secret manufacturing sites, and targeting local distribution hubs.
The ministry added that the network was active in the border area of Rankous, where around one million Captagon pills and one kilogram of hashish were seized. The shipment had come from Lebanon and was intended to be trafficked through Syrian territory to neighboring countries. It confirmed the arrest of three key members of the network.
The ministry further stated that anti-narcotics units successfully took control of former sites used for manufacturing Captagon pills, which contained quantities of raw materials as well as advanced machinery and logistical equipment.
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