Over One Million Syrian Refugees and Displaced Persons Return Home Since Early 2025
ARK New.. The United Nations has revealed that more than one million Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their country since the beginning of this year, marking an unprecedented record since 2011, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over one million Syrians have returned since the start of 2025, including 885,000 internally displaced persons and 302,000 refugees.
The UN’s Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, stated, "We expect the number of returning refugees and displaced persons to reach approximately 3.5 million by the end of this year."
He emphasized that "this reality underscores the urgent need for immediate investments in recovery support and reintegration efforts."
Despite the return momentum, Abdelmoula warned that clashes continue in parts of the north, south, and coastal regions, leading to "the displacement of thousands and hindering humanitarian aid access."
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Masrour Barzani Arrives in Qatar and Meets with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani
ARK News.. In response to an official invitation, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, arrived in the Qatari capital, Doha, where he met with Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the latest developments in Iraq and the region.
They also exchanged views on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the State of Qatar.
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منذ بداية 2025.. أكثر من مليون لاجئ ونازح سوري يعودون إلى بلادهم
كشفت الأمم المتحدة أن أكثر من مليون لاجئ ونازح سوري عادوا إلى بلادهم منذ مطلع العام الجاري، في رقم قياسي غير مسبوق منذ عام 2011، وذلك في أعقاب سقوط نظام بشار الأسد.
وفقاً لمفوضية الأمم المتحدة لشؤون اللاجئين، عاد منذ بداية العام (2025) أكثر من مليون سوري، من بينهم 885 ألف نازح داخلي و302 ألف لاجئ.
وقال منسق الأمم المتحدة الدائم والمساعدات الإنسانية في سوريا، آدم عبد المولى: "نتوقع أن يصل عدد العائدين من اللاجئين والنازحين خلال هذا العام إلى نحو 3.5 ملايين شخص".
مشدداً على أن "هذا الواقع يؤكد الحاجة الماسة إلى استثمارات عاجلة في دعم التعافي وإعادة الاندماج".
ورغم وتيرة العودة، حذّر عبد المولى من أن الاشتباكات لا تزال مستمرة في بعض مناطق الشمال والجنوب والساحل، ما يؤدي إلى "نزوح آلاف الأشخاص ويعيق وصول المساعدات الإنسانية".
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دمشق.. الأمن يلقي القبض على "شادي عادل محفوظ" أحد أبرز المطلوبين أمنيا
أعلنت مديرية أمن ريف دمشق عن إلقاء القبض على المدعو "شادي عادل محفوظ"، أحد أبرز المطلوبين أمنياً، والمتهم بالمشاركة في جرائم حرب والتجنيد غير القانوني لصالح شعبة المخابرات العسكرية (الفرع 277) إبان فترة النظام المخلوع.
قالت وزارة الداخلية السورية في بيان: "مديرية أمن ريف دمشق تلقي القبض على المجرم شادي عادل محفوظ، الذي عمل لدى شعبة المخابرات العسكرية فرع 277 زمن النظام البائد، والمسؤول عن التجنيد لصالح شعبة الأمن العسكري، والمتورّط بجرائم حرب".
وأضافت وزارة الداخلية أن "محفوظ شارك في الفترة الأخيرة مع فلول النظام البائد في استهداف القوات الأمنية والعسكرية في الساحل، وسيتم تقديمه للقضاء المختص لاتخاذ الإجراءات القانونية اللازمة".
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مسرور بارزاني يصل قطر ويجتمع مع الشيخ محمد بن عبد الرحمن آل ثاني
تلبية لدعوة رسمية، وصل رئيس حكومة إقليم كوردستان، إلى العاصمة القطرية الدوحة، واجتمع مع رئيس مجلس الوزراء وزير الخارجية القطري
وصل اليوم الاثنين 24 آذار 2025، رئيس حكومة إقليم كوردستان مسرور بارزاني، إلى العاصمة القطرية الدوحة، وذلك تلبية لدعوة رسمية، وقد اجتمع مع رئيس مجلس الوزراء وزير الخارجية القطري الشيخ محمد بن عبد الرحمن آل ثاني.
وخلال الاجتماع، جرى بحث مجمل مستجدات الأوضاع والتطورات في العراق والمنطقة، بالإضافة إلى تبادل وجهات النظر بشأن سبل تعزيز العلاقات الثنائية بين إقليم كوردستان ودولة قطر.
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أردوغان وترامب يناقشان التطورات في المنطقة وخاصة في سوريا
أعلن الرئيس التركي إنه أجرى تقييماً مفصلاً مع نظيره الأميركي حول التطورات الحاسمة في المنطقة، "وخاصة في سوريا".
قال الرئيس التركي رجب طيب أردوغان خلال مؤتمر صحفي في أنقرة عقب اجتماع مجلس الوزراء، أنه أجرى مكالمة هاتفية ودية للغاية مع الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب في 16 آذار الجاري، ناقشا خلالها "العديد من القضايا الثنائية والإقليمية بشكل مفصل، وخاصة في سوريا".
وأشار إلى أنه أجرى مع نظيره الأميركي تقييماً مفصلاً للتطورات الحاسمة الحالية في المنطقة وخاصة سوريا، دون أن يذكر مزيداً من التفاصيل.
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Syria’s Oil Ministry to Form Committees for Managing Oil Fields in Northeastern Syria
ARK News.. The Syrian Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources is planning to establish committees to oversee the handover and management of oil fields in northeastern Syria, according to a report by Al Arabiya.
A senior official from the ministry revealed in an exclusive statement to Al Arabiya that specialized technical teams will be formed to assess the condition of the oil fields in the eastern region of the country.
According to local Syrian media, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will retain a one-third share of oil production, while the remaining portion will be allocated to the Syrian state.
In February, the Syrian Oil Ministry disclosed to Al Arabiya that the PYD administration has been delivering 15,000 barrels of oil per day under a formal agreement.
This agreement is part of structured arrangements aimed at ensuring a steady flow of oil from PYD-controlled areas to designated recipients, with clearly defined production quotas.
Beyond oil, the agreement also includes the daily transfer of one million cubic meters of natural gas, primarily allocated to power generation plants. This initiative supports infrastructure development and meets the region’s energy demands.
The previous agreement with the SDF was recently revised, introducing modifications to certain provisions to ensure continued cooperation and streamline production and distribution operations.
Under the amended terms, beneficiaries will receive 15% of the total oil output from northeastern Syria. This revision is seen as a step toward regulating relations between the involved parties and establishing a legal framework to ensure a fair distribution of resources while maintaining controlled production levels as per agreed-upon requirements.
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Statement by Families of Abducted Kurds on the 8th Anniversary of the Kidnapping of Activist Fouad Ibrahim
ARK News.. On the eighth anniversary of the abduction of activist Fouad Ibrahim, the families of abducted Kurdish individuals issued a statement calling on the International Coalition, the United States, France—key players in the Syrian crisis—and human rights organizations to exert pressure on the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to disclose the fate of their loved ones, secure their release, and ensure accountability for all unlawful abductions.
Full Statement:
Today marks the eighth anniversary of the abduction of Fouad Ibrahim, a member of the General Secretariat of the Kurdish National Council in Syria, by the security forces (Asayish) of the Democratic Union Party (PYD). His fate remains unknown from the moment of his abduction to the present day.
Despite ongoing discussions about a joint political vision between the Kurdish National Council and the Kurdish National Unity Parties, there has been no progress regarding the fate of the abducted Kurds, leaving their families in anguish and uncertainty.
On this solemn occasion, we reiterate our urgent demand for the immediate release of all abducted Kurds held by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
We once again call on the International Coalition, the United States, France, and human rights organizations to take decisive action in pressuring the SDF leadership to reveal the fate of the kidnapped individuals, secure their release, and hold those responsible for these unlawful abductions accountable.
Families of the Abducted Kurds
March 24, 2025
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32nd Anniversary of the Hasaka Prison Massacre
ARK News.. Today, Monday, March 24, 2025, marks the 32nd anniversary of the Hasaka Prison Massacre in Ghweiran Prison, located in the city of Hasaka, in Syrian Kurdistan. The massacre claimed the lives of dozens of Kurdish prisoners at the hands of the Ba'athist regime on March 24, 1993. According to activists and eyewitnesses at the time, the prison was deliberately set on fire by the regime.
Details of the Hasaka Prison Fire Massacre
Hasaka Prison was built in the 1960s during the Syrian-Egyptian union. Initially designed to accommodate around 200 inmates, the Syrian regime overcrowded it with many times its intended capacity.
Before the tragic fire, prisoners endured dire conditions due to widespread corruption among prison guards and administrators. The Ba'athist regime intentionally housed political detainees alongside criminals convicted of theft, robbery, and drug-related offenses to create internal conflicts within the prison wards.
How Did the Fire Start, and Who Was Behind It?
Several former prisoners confirmed that the fire broke out around 6:00 PM on March 24, 1993, engulfing the second ward of Hasaka Central Prison. According to testimonies, the fire was deliberately started with the collusion of prison authorities and criminal inmates involved in drug trafficking.
Eyewitnesses reported that prison authorities distributed kerosene to inmates under the pretense that it would soon become unavailable. This led prisoners to store large quantities of it in their cells. The group collaborating with the prison administration then set the fire, which rapidly spread throughout the ward. Despite the prisoners' desperate cries for help, the guards refused to open the doors.
As the flames intensified and spread uncontrollably—especially due to the large amounts of kerosene stored inside—the situation became catastrophic. At this critical moment, a prisoner named Qahraman Ali from the third ward managed to seize a guard's key by force, unlocking the ward door and allowing some prisoners to escape. However, due to the ward's 30-meter length and the rapid spread of the fire, not all inmates managed to get out. The inferno resulted in the deaths of approximately 61 prisoners, while others suffered severe burns and suffocation. According to eyewitnesses, all prisoners in the ward ultimately perished due to suffocation before being consumed by the flames.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, which left over 61 dead and nearly 100 injured, the Syrian regime executed four individuals, accusing them of starting the fire. This move was widely seen as an attempt to cover up the true circumstances of the massacre and the regime’s role in orchestrating it.
A Massacre Shrouded in Mystery
Despite 32 years having passed since the Hasaka Prison Fire Massacre, many details surrounding the incident remain unclear. However, testimonies from survivors and Kurdish political figures consistently point to the Syrian regime’s involvement, accusing it of deliberate and premeditated complicity in the tragedy.
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Eight Years Since the Abduction of Activist Fouad Ibrahim by PYD Militants in Derik
ARK News.. Today, Monday, March 24, 2025, marks the eighth anniversary of the abduction of youth activist Fouad Ibrahim by militants of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the countryside of Derik, Syrian Kurdistan. His fate remains unknown, and no information about his whereabouts has surfaced to this day.
The Incident
On March 24, 2017, PYD militants abducted Fouad Ibrahim in an area between the villages of Mamshour and Shakir Khaji in the countryside of Derik. Despite continuous efforts to uncover his fate, all attempts have failed as the PYD has consistently denied responsibility for his disappearance.
Who is Fouad Ibrahim?
Fouad Ibrahim became involved in the Kurdish political movement in Syria in the late 1980s. He was an active participant in protests and demonstrations in his hometown, Derik, during the early stages of the Syrian revolution.
He later became a member of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in Syria and was elected as a member of its General Secretariat. When the Kurdish Supreme Committee was established in 2012 following the Duhok Agreement between the PYD administration and the KNC, he was chosen as a member of this body.
Fouad had previously been detained multiple times by both the Syrian regime's security forces and PYD militants due to his political activism and participation in protests against the Syrian regime.
On October 2, 2016, Fouad Ibrahim was abducted alongside local council member Walid Farman while distributing invitations for a local council event. Upon his release, PYD militants reportedly threatened him with execution if he continued his political activities and youth activism.
According to information obtained by ARK Media Foundation, Fouad Ibrahim endured severe torture in one of the PYD's detention centers. His health deteriorated to the extent that he had to be transferred to a hospital for urgent medical treatment.
On March 24, 2017, he was abducted once again by PYD militants near the villages of Mamshour and Shakir Khaji in the countryside of Derik. Since then, there has been no information about his fate.
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