Masrour Barzani Expresses Appreciation for the Egyptian President’s Role in Supporting the Kurdish Cause
ARK News.. The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, on Monday, January 12, 2026, received the Egyptian Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, Ambassador Mahmoud Farouk Youssef Amer.
The meeting discussed the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Cairo and his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The Consul General highlighted the importance of the visit and its role in advancing bilateral relations across various fields, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Kurdistan Region.
For his part, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for Egypt and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for their role in supporting the Kurdish cause and in laying the foundations for peace and stability in the region.
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First Convoy of Displaced Residents Returns from Afrin to Ashrafiya Neighborhood in Aleppo
ARK News.. After the Afrin Region Administration announced the launch of the first return convoy to the Ashrafiya neighborhood in the city of Aleppo, following the end of security operations in the area, the head of the Afrin Local Council confirmed that the convoy will depart today from Afrin to Aleppo.
In a special statement to Ark News, Ahmed Hassan, Head of the Afrin Local Council of the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS), said that the convoy is scheduled to depart from “Afrin Garage” at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Hassan added that the Kurdish National Council in Syria will work to organize additional return convoys for displaced residents from Afrin to the Ashrafiya neighborhood in Aleppo, following coordination with the relevant authorities in the city.
He also noted that around 150,000 people were displaced from the Ashrafiya and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods in Aleppo to Afrin as a result of the armed clashes that took place in the previous period.
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European Union Calls for an End to Hostilities in and Around Aleppo
ARK News.. The European Union has called on the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to resume “dialogue” following deadly clashes in the city of Aleppo.
In a statement, an EU spokesperson said: “The European Union calls for an end to hostilities in and around the city of Aleppo and stresses the importance of protecting civilians at all times and facilitating humanitarian access.”
The statement added: “We urge all parties to implement the announced ceasefire and to return urgently to dialogue in order to reach a political solution.”
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Death Toll from Clashes in Ashrafiya and Sheikh Maqsoud Rises to Nearly 200
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights source reported that the number of casualties resulting from the clashes in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya neighborhoods of Aleppo has risen to nearly 200 people, including both killed and wounded.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday, January 11, 2026, that the death toll from the clashes and intense shelling in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya since the first day of escalation has reached 82 people, including civilians and fighters, amid ongoing military operations and continued reports of missing persons whose fate remains unknown.
According to the Observatory, the casualties are distributed as follows:
• 43 civilians, including 8 women and 5 children.
• 39 fighters from both sides.
The source added that approximately 115 people have been documented as injured, most of them women and children, with varying degrees of severity, as a result of indiscriminate shelling and direct clashes inside residential areas.
The Observatory also noted that a number of civilians remain missing due to heavy and indiscriminate bombardment, compounded by a near-total disruption of communications and internet services, which continues to hinder documentation efforts and contact with affected families.
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Canada Calls for De-escalation in Aleppo’s Ashrafiya and Sheikh Maqsoud Neighborhoods
ARK News.. Canada has called for swift steps to reduce tensions in the Ashrafiya and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods of the Syrian city of Aleppo.
In a statement issued on Saturday, January 10, 2026, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the Syrian interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to take immediate measures to de-escalate the situation.
Canada called on both parties to make the protection of civilians and dialogue their top priorities, in order to prevent further violence and help calm the situation on the ground.
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Over 10 Days, Israeli Forces Carry Out More Than 15 Incursions into Syrian Territory
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights source reported that Israeli forces have carried out more than 15 incursions into Syrian territory since the beginning of the new year 2026.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday, January 10, 2026, that it documented 16 ground incursions by Israeli forces into Syrian territory in the provinces of Daraa and Quneitra since the start of 2026.
According to the source, the incursions were not limited to armored military movements, but also included the destruction of civilian facilities, the arrest of civilians, and the raising of Israeli flags on strategic hills, at a time when the Syrian transitional government has maintained complete silence, without any movement by the military forces stationed in the area to defend national sovereignty.
The source added that Israeli units involved in the incursions blew up what remained of the Golani Hospital structure in the destroyed city of Quneitra, and raised the Israeli flag over Tal al-Ahmar in Quneitra, within Syrian territory. This was accompanied by heavy gunfire in al-Hamidiya, in the countryside of Quneitra, aimed at intimidating local residents and preventing them from approaching the area.
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President Barzani and Ahmed al-Sharaa Discuss Latest Political Developments in Syria
ARK News.. The Syrian President, Mr. Ahmed al-Sharaa, held a phone call on Friday, January 9, 2026, with President Masoud Barzani.
During the call, the two leaders discussed the latest political developments in Syria and the changes taking place in the region, emphasizing the importance of stability and continued coordination. President al-Sharaa affirmed that the Kurds are an integral and essential component of the Syrian people, stressing the Syrian state’s full commitment to guaranteeing all national, political, and civil rights of the Kurds, as well as those of all other components in Syria, on an equal basis and without discrimination.
For his part, President Barzani expressed his appreciation for President al-Sharaa’s vision and reaffirmed his support for the will and aspirations of the Syrian people to build an inclusive state that brings together all parties and components as equal partners. He also stressed the importance of continuing consultation and coordination in a way that serves the interests of all sides and safeguards civil peace.
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Masrour Barzani: We Reject Any Pretext That Allows “Ethnic Cleansing” Against Kurds in Aleppo
ARK News.. The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, expressed deep concern over the attacks targeting Kurdish neighborhoods in the Syrian city of Aleppo, warning of attempts to “alter the demographic makeup of the area” and endanger civilian lives.
In an official statement, Masrour Barzani said: “Targeting Kurds in Aleppo constitutes a direct threat to the lives of defenseless civilians and a clear attempt to bring about demographic change in the region,” adding that these developments “raise serious questions about the responsibility of the authorities in Damascus and the conscience of the international community.”
He stressed that war and violence are not solutions to any problem, firmly rejecting the use of any pretext to permit “ethnic cleansing,” noting that the military escalation against civilians in Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo has become a source of grave concern for the Kurdistan Regional Government.
The Prime Minister called on all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint, safeguard civilian lives, and resort to dialogue and negotiations as the only viable path to resolving the ongoing crises.
In conclusion, Masrour Barzani expressed hope that Syria’s current governing authorities would rise to the level of responsibility by adopting an inclusive, democratic approach that represents all components of the Syrian people without exception.
Masrour Barzani
Kurdistan Region
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President Barzani: There Are Threats of Ethnic Cleansing Against Kurds in Aleppo
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani stressed that political disputes “must not endanger the lives of civilians or lead to ethnic cleansing against the Kurdish people,” warning that such acts would constitute “crimes against humanity with grave and far-reaching consequences.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, addressing the events in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya neighborhoods, President Barzani noted that the political changes in Syria have created a valuable opportunity to develop an appropriate roadmap that ensures respect for the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and addresses all outstanding disputes.
He added: “From this standpoint, we have made sustained efforts with all parties, driven by our belief that all disagreements and problems must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means.”
President Barzani warned that “the dangerous situation and the ongoing fighting and violence in the city of Aleppo are a source of deep concern and pose a serious threat to the lives of civilians and innocent citizens, amid threats of ethnic cleansing against the Kurds in that area.”
Full Text of the Message:
Message from President Barzani
In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,
The political changes in Syria have created a valuable opportunity to develop an appropriate roadmap that ensures respect for the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and addresses all disputed issues.
From this perspective, we have made tireless efforts with all parties, believing firmly that all disagreements and problems must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. Nevertheless, the grave situation and the ongoing fighting and violence in the city of Aleppo are deeply concerning and pose a serious threat to the lives of civilians and innocent citizens, amid threats of ethnic cleansing against the Kurds in that region.
Accordingly, I call on the authorities in Syria not to turn a political dispute into an ethnic conflict, and not to allow Kurdish citizens in Aleppo to face pressure, repression, or displacement from the land of their forefathers, or to fall victim to ethnic cleansing.
I also call on Kurdish parties, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to do everything possible to halt the fighting and clashes, prevent further bloodshed, and work seriously toward adopting dialogue and negotiation as the means to resolve disputes.
Political disagreements must not become a pretext for endangering civilian lives or committing ethnic cleansing against the Kurdish people. Such acts constitute crimes against humanity and carry dangerous consequences that must not be underestimated.
Masoud Barzani
January 7, 2026
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Statement from the Kurdish National Council regarding developments in the city of Aleppo
ARK News.. The Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC) expressed deep concern over the ongoing clashes in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya neighborhoods of Aleppo, warning that the Syrian army’s designation of the two areas as military zones and calls for the evacuation of civilians constitute a dangerous indicator that could lead to further civilian casualties and repercussions extending to other parts of Syria.
In a statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Council on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the KNC called on all parties to immediately halt military operations, resort to dialogue, lift the siege on the two neighborhoods, and allow the entry of humanitarian and medical aid to treat the wounded.
Full Statement Press Statement on the Developments in the City of Aleppo
The General Secretariat of the Kurdish National Council in Syria expresses its grave concern over the ongoing clashes in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya neighborhoods, which are predominantly Kurdish areas in the city of Aleppo and home to tens of thousands of civilians.
The artillery and rocket shelling of the two neighborhoods, along with continued fighting in civilian areas since yesterday, has resulted in civilian casualties, dozens of injuries, and the displacement of thousands of families from the two neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
This development threatens to further aggravate the humanitarian and security situation in the city. Furthermore, the classification of the two neighborhoods as military zones by the Syrian army, and calls for their evacuation of civilians, represent a serious and dangerous development that could lead to additional civilian deaths and wider repercussions across different regions of Syria.
In this context, we extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. We call on all parties to immediately cease military operations, lift the siege on the two neighborhoods, and allow humanitarian and medical assistance to enter in order to treat the injured. We also urge all sides to resort to dialogue, halt media escalation, ensure the protection of civilians, and avoid dragging residential neighborhoods into military confrontations.
Moreover, we stress the necessity for the Syrian administration to initiate a comprehensive political process that addresses outstanding issues and constitutionally safeguards the rights of Syria’s components, foremost among them the rights of the Kurdish people, in a manner that contributes to stability and the building of sustainable peace in Syria.
General Secretariat of the Kurdish National Council in Syria
January 7, 2026 Qamishlo
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