Kurdish Rights Network and Human Rights Organizations Condemn Shelling of Residential Neighborhoods in Aleppo
ARK News.. A Kurdish human rights network, along with several Syrian Kurdish human rights organizations, has issued a statement condemning the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya neighborhoods, as well as Deir Hafer in Aleppo.
Statement text:
We, the undersigned Syrian human rights organizations, are following with grave concern the targeting of residential neighborhoods in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya in the city of Aleppo by Syrian factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense.
This indiscriminate shelling has, so far, resulted in the killing of five people and the injury of 30 civilians, including women and children. The attacks on both neighborhoods are continuing at an intense pace, in addition to the destruction of homes and civilian property, the disruption of essential services and the continuation of a siege that obstructs the delivery of humanitarian aid and the access of medical teams to civilians.
Tanks and heavy military vehicles have also been deployed on the outskirts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya and used to carry out heavy weapons shelling against civilian residential areas. This dangerous military escalation places the lives of thousands of civilians at direct risk and underscores the systematic nature of these attacks, constituting a serious violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution enshrined in international humanitarian law.
Furthermore, some Saudi, Qatari, and Turkish media outlets are contributing to the distortion of facts and fueling tensions through inciting rhetoric and biased, misleading coverage, as if they view the continuation of Syrian infighting as an end in itself rather than a humanitarian tragedy that demands condemnation and an immediate halt.
The town of Deir Hafer in eastern rural Aleppo has also been targeted, and the Deir Hafer road— a vital artery linking the city of Aleppo with areas east of the Euphrates— has been cut off. This has disrupted civilian movement and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, further exacerbating the suffering of the population.
These systematic attacks constitute flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, including:
• The direct targeting of civilians, in violation of Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
• Indiscriminate attacks on densely populated areas, in breach of the rules of distinction between civilians and military objectives set out in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
• Causing excessive harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure beyond any legitimate military advantage.
• Obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilian populations, in violation of international laws, conventions, and humanitarian and ethical norms.
As Syrian human rights organizations committed to defending human rights, we express our full solidarity with the families of innocent victims, wish a speedy recovery to all those injured, and categorically condemn and denounce all forms of violence, killing, and military attacks on safe residential neighborhoods, regardless of their sources or justifications.
We hold the Syrian Interim Government fully legally and morally responsible for these actions and call on the international community to assume its responsibilities in protecting civilians and ensuring fair accountability for all those responsible.
Our urgent demands are as follows:
• An immediate halt to all shelling and military attacks on civilian areas and the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.
• Unhindered access for humanitarian and medical organizations to assist the wounded and displaced.
• The establishment of an independent international investigative committee to document violations and hold all perpetrators accountable under international law.
• An urgent return to political and humanitarian dialogue to ensure civilian protection and put an end to violations of international law.
Qamishli – Syria
06 January 2026
Signatory Organizations:
1. Kurdish Human Rights Network in Syria
2. Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF
3. Kurdish Committee for Human Rights in Syria (Rasd)
4. Organization for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience in Syria (Rawanga)
5. Kurdish Human Rights Organization in Syria (DAD)
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Kurdistan Democratic Party, Fouad Hussein, Nawzad Hadi, President of Iraq
ARK News.. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has put forward two candidates for the post of President of the Republic of Iraq.
According to available information, Fouad Hussein and Nawzad Hadi are the KDP’s official nominees for the presidency.
Mechanism for Electing the President in Parliament
The process of electing the President of the Republic follows several constitutional and legal stages within the Iraqi Council of Representatives:
Legal Quorum: A special parliamentary session must be convened with the attendance of two-thirds of the total members of parliament (219 out of 329 MPs).
First Round: A candidate wins if they secure two-thirds of the votes of all MPs (219 votes), in accordance with Article 70 of the Iraqi Constitution.
Second Round: If no candidate achieves the required majority in the first round, the contest is limited to the two candidates with the highest number of votes. The winner is then the candidate who obtains a simple majority (the higher number of votes).
Oath of Office: The elected president takes the constitutional oath immediately after the announcement of results, officially assuming office.
It is worth noting that the position of President of the Republic, which has traditionally been allocated to the Kurdish component under the political convention followed since 2003, represents the sovereignty of the state, serves as the guardian of the constitution, and symbolizes the unity of Iraq’s territory. The presidential term lasts four years, renewable once only.
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President Barzani Receives a Delegation from the Al-Sadiqoun Movement
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani received, on Monday January 5, 2026, in Pirmam, a delegation from the al-Sadiqoun Movement, headed by Dr. Naim al-Aboudi, Deputy Secretary-General of the movement.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the political situation in Iraq, the steps being taken in the post-election phase, as well as ways to enhance coordination and cooperation among political forces.
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Trump: Iran Will Face a “Very Strong Strike”
ARK News.. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that it would face a “very strong strike” from the United States if more protesters are killed during demonstrations that have entered their second week over deteriorating living conditions.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “We are watching the situation very closely. If they start killing people like they did in the past, I think they will receive a very strong strike from the United States.”
The protests, sparked by worsening economic conditions, began with a strike by shop owners in Tehran on December 28, 2025.
At least 12 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed since the protests began, according to figures based on official reports.
These demonstrations are considered the most significant in Iran since the protests that erupted in September 2022 and lasted for months, following the death of young woman Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women.
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Syrian and Israeli Officials to Meet in Paris
ARK News.. A U.S. news website has revealed that senior Syrian and Israeli officials are set to meet in the French capital, Paris, on Monday, as part of renewed talks on a potential security agreement between the two sides.
The American outlet Axios reported on Sunday, January 4, 2026, citing an Israeli source, that delegations from Syria and Israel will convene in Paris to continue negotiations on security arrangements. The talks are expected to last two days and will be mediated by U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack. The Syrian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
According to the source, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, will head the Israeli negotiating team, replacing Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and will be joined by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military adviser.
The source noted that the resumption of negotiations came at the direct request of U.S. President Donald Trump during his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu last week.
Axios added that Israel has put forward a proposal that includes the establishment of buffer security zones southwest of Damascus and the imposition of a no-fly restriction on Syrian aircraft in areas near the border. In return, Israeli forces would withdraw from Syrian territories they recently entered, while maintaining a strategic presence at specific locations, such as Mount Hermon.
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Nearly 400 Employees Dismissed from the Construction and Development Sector in Homs
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights source has revealed that the Syrian interim government has issued a decision to dismiss hundreds of employees in the city of Homs.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the interim government on Monday, January 5, 2026, issued a decision to dismiss approximately 400 employees working in the construction and development sector in Homs.
The source indicated that most of the dismissed employees have long professional experience ranging between 15 and 25 years of service, noting that the decision was justified on the grounds of “lack of need.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that, so far, no official statement has been released clarifying the criteria adopted by the government in implementing the dismissals, nor the compensatory measures planned for those affected.
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International Coalition Conducts Large-Scale Military Drills at Qasrek Base in Hasaka
ARK News.. Local sources reported that International Coalition forces have carried out extensive military exercises at one of their bases in the countryside of Hasaka, in Kurdistan of Syria.
According to the sources, the drills took place at Qasrek Base, located in the rural areas of Hasaka city, and included ground and aerial combat simulation operations. The exercises involved the use of live ammunition, as well as heavy and medium weapons, amid intensive flights by coalition warplanes over the area.
The sources added that the drills featured maneuvers targeting mock objectives and focused on coordinating offensive operations between ground forces and aerial cover.
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Suwayda: Daily Ceasefire Violations Between Transitional Government Forces and the National Guard
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights source reported that government forces and allied units on one side, and local National Guard forces on the other, are exchanging gunfire on a daily basis in Suwayda province.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated on January 4, 2026, that the rural areas of Suwayda continue to witness repeated violations of the ceasefire, creating a persistent atmosphere of fear and anxiety among civilians.
According to the Observatory, no serious signs of a breakthrough or credible negotiations toward a lasting agreement between the two sides have emerged so far.
It added that since the beginning of 2026, at least four ceasefire violations have been documented in the Suwayda countryside, resulting in seven National Guard members being injured.
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Damascus: One of the Explosions Targeted Senior Figures of the New Syrian Authority
ARK News.. Damascus witnessed three explosions late on Saturday night, January 3, 2026, according to local sources.
The first blast occurred at a military battalion on the hill overlooking Mazze 86, the second in Mazze Villas behind al-Mohammedi Mosque—an area known to be home to senior, first-tier figures of the new Syrian authority—and the third in the vicinity of Mazze Military Airport.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that residents in nearby areas were gripped by fear amid an official blackout by Syrian authorities. No confirmed information has yet emerged regarding casualties or material damage.
The incident comes less than a week after a similar event on the evening of December 30, 2025, when heavy gunfire was heard in the Al-Qasr area, an incident later denied by pro-government media outlets and platforms.
Nearly five days later, no official clarification has been issued regarding those events, raising widespread public questions about the circumstances behind the gunfire, which reportedly lasted several minutes.
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Kurdistan Democratic Party Forms Delegation for Talks on the Iraqi Presidency
ARK News.. The Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) held a high-level meeting on Saturday, January 3, 2026, chaired by President Masoud Barzani, and attended by KDP Vice Presidents Nechirvan Barzani and Masrour Barzani, to discuss current political developments, foremost among them the post of President of the Republic of Iraq.
During the meeting, the KDP decided to form an official negotiating delegation to launch a new round of talks with political forces regarding the constitutional entitlement to the presidency.
According to Kurdistan24, Dr. Danar Abdulghaffar, a member of the KDP parliamentary bloc in the Iraqi parliament, confirmed that the selection of a presidential candidate was the central issue on the meeting’s agenda.
Abdulghaffar explained that no specific candidate has been named so far, noting that the KDP adheres to a vision that the nominee should be a consensus figure enjoying broad national acceptance and agreement among all components of Kurdistan.
He also revealed that the party’s negotiating delegation is expected to begin meetings with other political forces in the Kurdistan Region within the next two days, aiming to reach agreement on a joint Kurdish candidate who would represent the aspirations of the Region in Baghdad.
It is worth noting that the Iraqi parliament has officially opened nominations for the presidency, a position that, since 2003, has traditionally been allocated to the Kurdish component. Decisions and upcoming understandings by the Kurdistan Democratic Party are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the next political landscape and in safeguarding the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region.
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