President Masoud Barzani, Kobani, Peshmerga, Kurdistan Region, ISIS, Liberation, Historic Anniversary
ARK News.. On October 28, 2014, and under the direct orders of President Masoud Barzani, Peshmerga forces set out toward the city of Kobani in Syrian Kurdistan to help defeat the terrorist group ISIS.
Following the approval of a majority in the Kurdistan Parliament, President Barzani authorized the deployment of a Peshmerga contingent to support the people of Kobani, who were then enduring a brutal siege by ISIS.
The Peshmerga crossed from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq through Kurdistan of Turkey, proudly carrying the Kurdistan flag, and reached Kobani on October 31, 2014. There, they joined local forces in the battle to repel one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organizations.
The people of Kobani and Bakur (Northern Kurdistan) welcomed the Peshmerga with flowers, celebrating their arrival as a moment of unity and courage.
That day remains a historic milestone for the Kurdish nation, symbolizing solidarity and sacrifice, as the Peshmerga and allied forces successfully liberated Kobani and its surrounding villages from ISIS control.
Kobani had come under heavy attack on September 13, 2014, forcing hundreds of thousands of Kurds to flee. After months of fierce battles, the city and its countryside were finally liberated on January 26, 2015, thanks to the joint efforts of the Peshmerga, YPG, and international coalition air support.
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President Barzani Expresses Delight at Duhok’s Development, Calls for Further Progress
ARK News.. As part of his visit to Duhok Province, President Masoud Barzani toured the city on the evening of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, expressing his satisfaction with the city’s ongoing development.
During his visit, President Barzani walked through Sarhildan Park in Duhok and voiced his joy that a new, modern park had been established in one of the city’s underprivileged neighborhoods.
He expressed hope that Duhok—and all cities across Kurdistan—would continue to see greater reconstruction and progress.
President Barzani also visited the Martyrs’ Café in Duhok’s central market, where portraits of more than a thousand martyrs from the war against ISIS, as well as from the Kurdish liberation movements, are displayed alongside traditional Kurdish artifacts and historical items.
He praised the patriotic and devoted efforts behind the initiative and the loyalty to the memory of the martyrs, pledging to support the café’s expansion as a vital cultural landmark in Duhok.
During his visit, President Barzani also met with several residents of the city and engaged in friendly conversations with them.
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Netherlands to Syrian Refugees: Return Home and Receive a Repatriation Bonus
ARK News.. Dutch media outlets have revealed that the Netherlands’ Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has rejected nearly 85% of the regular asylum applications submitted by Syrian refugees.
According to reports, the IND is currently processing around 17,000 pending Syrian asylum applications, with some applicants having lived in asylum centers for many years.
Sources indicate that the Dutch government is now urging Syrian refugees to return to their homeland, suggesting that losing their right to reside in the Netherlands has become almost certain.
The Dutch newspaper Trouw reported that the processing of Syrian applications was suspended for six months following the fall of the former Assad regime, adding that the government’s message is now unmistakably clear: “Return to your country — and receive a repatriation bonus.”
The newspaper added that since the beginning of this year, the Dutch government has been encouraging voluntary return by offering financial assistance of up to €5,000 for adults and €2,500 for minors, in exchange for renouncing residency rights or withdrawing asylum applications.
These developments come after the Dutch government announced in June that Syria is now considered sufficiently safe for the return of its citizens.
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Syria Seizes Nearly 11 Million Captagon Pills Smuggled from Lebanon
ARK News.. The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced that the Anti-Narcotics Department in Homs has seized a vehicle coming from Lebanon loaded with millions of Captagon pills.
According to a statement from the ministry, security forces confiscated approximately 11 million pills of the narcotic Captagon, along with the vehicle used in the smuggling operation.
The ministry added that investigations are ongoing to uncover the identities of those involved and to identify what it described as “criminal networks”
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President Barzani Urges Baghdad and European Nations to Recognize the Anfal Crimes as Genocide and Deliver Justice to Victims
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani has called on the Iraqi government to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and fulfill its duty toward delivering justice to the victims of the Anfal campaign, while also urging European countries that have investigated these crimes to officially recognize the atrocities committed against the Kurdish people as acts of genocide.
Speaking at the Conference on the Kurdish Genocide held at Duhok University on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, President Barzani said: “Throughout history, the destiny of the people of Kurdistan has been one of pain, suffering, and injustice. But what matters most is that future generations never forget the genocidal campaigns endured by their ancestors.”
Welcoming Arab guests in Arabic, President Barzani expressed appreciation for their solidarity, stating: “I am pleased to be among you today at this important conference on the genocide in Kurdistan. Your presence reflects your compassion and your sharing in our grief. The images documenting these crimes pierce the heart — may God have mercy on the martyrs and grant patience to their families.”
Opening his address, he noted: “The people of Kurdistan have long endured hardship and persecution, particularly in the last century, when the genocide against our people began in an organized and systematic manner, starting with the Fayli Kurds.” He revealed that large numbers of Fayli and Barzani Kurds were forcibly relocated to Akashat and Al-Qaim, where chemical weapons were tested on them.
President Barzani emphasized that since the Kurdish people gained self-governance, they have never sought revenge, even during the 1991 uprising, when two Iraqi army corps fell into the hands of Kurdish civilians and Peshmerga forces: “Not a single Iraqi soldier was harmed or humiliated — even though they were the same soldiers who destroyed more than 4,500 of our villages and carried out the Anfal campaigns.”
He continued: “We lost many of our loved ones, but they departed with honor and achieved martyrdom. Those who committed those crimes perished in disgrace and shame.” Barzani stressed that the most important duty today is to prevent the repetition of such atrocities against the Kurdish people, and to ensure that no innocent person is ever targeted simply for being Kurdish.
He thanked the parliaments of Sweden and the United Kingdom and all nations that have recognized the Anfal crimes as genocide, urging other European countries to do the same: “Although the Iraqi Parliament recognized the Anfal as genocide in 2008, no practical steps have been taken since.
The federal government must compensate the families of the victims.” Looking ahead, Barzani expressed hope that the post-election political environment in Iraq would bring greater stability and adherence to the constitution: “If the constitution governs relations between Erbil and Baghdad, and between citizens and their government, we will have no problems. But if personal whims dictate decisions, our problems will persist and worsen.”
President Barzani concluded by reaffirming the Kurdish people’s spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation, saying: “Nowhere else in the world has a government used chemical weapons against its own people — except in Kurdistan. Yet our people chose peace over revenge. Still, it is our duty never to forget these crimes and to teach future generations the price of the freedom we now enjoy.” He reiterated his call on the federal government to uphold its constitutional and moral obligations: “The constitution mandates compensation for the victims. The Kurdistan Regional Government will continue to coordinate and work to ensure this promise is fulfilled.”
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Derik: Kurdish National Council Holds Lecture on National Identity and Ethnic Rights
ARK News.. The Derik Local Council of the Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC), in cooperation with the Legal Committee of the KNC, organized a lecture titled “National Identity and Ethnic Rights,” delivered by lawyer Ibrahim Ahmad, a member of the Legal Committee.
The lecture was attended by a number of doctors, teachers, intellectuals, lawyers, dignitaries, and politicians, along with a delegation from the Kochara Local Council of the KNC.
In the first part of his presentation, Ibrahim Ahmad discussed the concept of national identity, outlining ten key elements essential to fostering a genuine sense of belonging among citizens — describing them as the foundation of any true democracy. He also compared different models of national identity across the region and the world.
In the second part, Ahmad addressed ethnic rights, reviewing the chauvinistic policies and exceptional measures that have historically targeted the Kurdish people, leading to double marginalization and a loss of mutual trust among communities. He emphasized that the solution lies in building an inclusive Syrian national identity based on constitutional recognition of ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, ensuring fair representation in state institutions, and equal participation in decision-making.
He further stressed the importance of transparent transitional justice and addressing historical grievances in line with international conventions — such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Minorities, the Right of Peoples to Self-Determination, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Ahmad also called for the implementation of the Qamishlo Conference (April) resolutions through dialogue with the Syrian Transitional Government, describing it as a viable path toward a sustainable political solution that guarantees stability and balance, free from exclusion and marginalization.
He concluded by underscoring the need for the Kurdish delegation emerging from the Intra-Kurdish Conference (April 26) to engage openly with Damascus without compromising the Kurdish people’s national rights.
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Iran Confirms Its Nuclear File Has Been Removed from the UN Security Council Agenda
ARK News.. Iran’s Parliament Speaker announced that the country’s nuclear file has been officially removed from the UN Security Council agenda under Clause 8 of Resolution 2231, which stipulates the continuation of lifting previous sanctions and recognizes Iran’s right to enrich uranium.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Sunday, October 26, 2025, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibav said that Iran, along with Russia and China, had sent an official letter to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, rejecting the “legal validity” of the European Troika’s (Britain, France, Germany) attempt to activate the “snapback” mechanism to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.
Ghalibav added that this joint position represents a strategic show of solidarity among three major powers in the face of Western pressure.
He further emphasized that “the era of American unipolarity has ended,” calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to adhere to the provisions of its December 2015 Board of Governors resolution.
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An Israeli military force penetrates several villages in the Quneitra countryside.
ARK News.. The Syrian-Israeli border near the Golan Heights witnessed extensive Israeli military activity on Saturday, October 25, 2025, involving ground incursions and the establishment of temporary checkpoints, though no direct clashes or arrests were reported.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an Israeli military force consisting of five four-wheel-drive vehicles advanced from the village of al-Ashah toward the al-Rabi‘a neighborhood and nearby farmlands north of al-Rafid and Ain al-Abd in southern Quneitra countryside, before proceeding toward the Tel Ahmar West base, amid heavy drone activity over the area.
Simultaneously, two tanks entered al-Hamidiya in central Quneitra, accompanied by a broad military alert in the surrounding positions. In another maneuver, three tanks and several military vehicles moved near the old al-Suqri checkpoint at the start of the Peace Highway, advancing from the destroyed Quneitra base, while four additional tanks advanced toward al-Samadaniya, escorted by armored vehicles.
Elsewhere, Israeli forces set up a temporary checkpoint on the road between Turanja and Hader in northern Quneitra, as Israeli helicopters conducted intensive overflights.
Israeli troops and two military vehicles also moved from Tel Ahmar West toward Tel Ahmar East, marking a visible escalation of field activity along the Syrian contact lines, though no civilian confrontations were reported.
In a separate development, Israeli forces established another temporary checkpoint between Jabba and Khan Arnaba, where they conducted ID inspections and fired illumination flares over the al-Suqri area on Jabba’s outskirts, seizing several civilian motorcycles under heavy surveillance drone activity.
Later in the day, six Israeli military vehicles advanced near Tel Kroum in central Quneitra, as field mobilizations continued along the border strip. No direct clashes or attacks were reported.
These movements come amid a notable escalation of Israeli military activity in recent weeks, with incursions now occurring almost daily along Syria’s southern border—indicating a growing push to consolidate Israel’s field presence inside Syrian territory.
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Once Again, Protesters in Suwayda Demand the Right to Self-Determination
ARK News.. Dozens of citizens in Suwayda organized a protest calling for the right to self-determination and the disclosure of the fate of missing and abducted men and women.
According to local sources, demonstrators gathered on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in al-Karama Square in the city of Suwayda, demanding the liberation of villages and towns in the northern and western countryside from armed groups affiliated with the Syrian transitional government.
The same sources reported that the protest banners carried messages urging influential international powers to pressure the Syrian transitional government to allow displaced residents to return to their homes, protect minorities across Syrian territories, and work toward building a democratic state.
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The Kurdish National Council issues a statement on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of its founding.
ARK News.. On the occasion of its 14th founding anniversary, the Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC) reaffirmed its commitment to the outcomes of the Kurdish Unity and Common Stance Conference and to the Joint Kurdish Delegation formed from it, praising the substantial support extended by President Masoud Barzani, whose backing made the event a historic milestone in the process of Kurdish unity.
In its statement dated October 25, 2025, the KNC called on Syria’s Transitional Administration to refrain from exclusionary and marginalizing policies, and instead adopt a constructive approach to dialogue with all national, ethnic, political, and societal components — ensuring broad participation in national decision-making and the reconstruction process.
The Council also urged amendments to the Constitutional Declaration to guarantee greater freedoms and rights, including the recognition of the Kurdish people's rights.
Full Text of the Statement:
On October 26, 2025, the Kurdish National Council in Syria marks the 14th anniversary of its establishment — a founding moment born out of an urgent national and Kurdish necessity during a decisive period in Syria’s history, when the Syrian people of all components rose up against an authoritarian regime that inflicted suffering and humiliation upon its citizens and targeted the Kurdish people through racist and discriminatory policies. In response to these developments, the First Kurdish National Congress was held on October 26, 2011, giving birth to the Kurdish National Council in Syria as a political alliance that brought together most Kurdish parties at the time, along with civic, cultural, women’s, and youth organizations. The Council adopted peaceful and democratic means of struggle to achieve its vision and program, which viewed a political solution as the only path out of the cycle of violence and toward the end of authoritarian rule. From its inception, the KNC has advocated for a democratic, decentralized, and pluralistic Syria — one that recognizes the national rights of the Kurdish people and the rights of all other components of the country within a constitution founded on equality, justice, and mutual respect.
Throughout its struggle as an active part of the Syrian national opposition, the Council has carried forward its vision of a political solution, insisting that the Kurdish question is an essential and integral part of the national agenda — a democratic and national issue at the heart of Syria’s future. Through participation in regional and international forums, conferences, and committees dealing with the Syrian file, the KNC succeeded to a large extent in bringing the Kurdish issue in Syria to national and international attention, stressing that resolving the Kurdish question is key to building the new Syria as a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized state for all its citizens. As the former regime deepened its policies of violence, hatred, and division among Syrians, the KNC worked to preserve civil peace and strengthen the culture of coexistence among Syria’s diverse communities.
Together with its partners in the Peace and Freedom Front, the Council reaffirmed its rejection of all forms of incitement and discrimination, calling for the promotion of fraternity and national partnership. Since its founding, the KNC has served as a unifying framework for the Kurdish political movement and a genuine representative of the Kurdish people’s aspirations. It has consistently sought to unify Kurdish ranks and positions in the face of the immense challenges confronting Syria and the Kurdish regions in particular.
These efforts culminated in the Kurdish Unity and Common Stance Conference, held in Qamishlo on April 26, 2025, with the strong support of President Masoud Barzani. The Council expressed pride in its role in this landmark event and reaffirmed its full commitment to its outcomes, emphasizing the importance of enabling the joint Kurdish delegation to fulfill its mission through responsible national dialogue with the Transitional Authority in Syria.
The statement noted that the Syrian people’s struggle, backed by international support and the efforts of friends of the Syrian cause, resulted in the fall of the authoritarian regime and its disgraceful flight on December 8, 2024. Syrians welcomed this turning point with hope for a new era free from oppression and pain. However, despite the passage of several months, many Syrians continue to seek security, stability, and the realization of the rights for which they have long struggled.
Accordingly, the KNC called on the Transitional Administration to abandon exclusionary policies and embrace a comprehensive national dialogue with all political and social components, urging a genuine inclusion in decision-making and reconstruction efforts. The Council reiterated the need to amend the Constitutional Declaration to ensure wider freedoms and rights — including those of the Kurdish people — and affirmed its readiness to contribute positively to the current transitional phase and the shaping of a comprehensive national project that safeguards Syria’s unity and guarantees justice, dignity, and rights for all its citizens.
On this occasion, marking the 14th anniversary of its founding, the Kurdish National Council extended its greetings to the Kurdish people and to all Syrians, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to peaceful and democratic struggle for a decentralized, pluralistic, and democratic Syria, where all its citizens may live together in harmony and peace.
The statement concluded by honoring the martyrs of the Kurdish people and the martyrs of the Syrian revolution, whose sacrifices remain forever alive in the memory and conscience of their people.
October 25, 2025
Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC)
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