Rising Euphrates Water Levels Cause Partial Flooding of Al-Younani Displacement Camp
ARK News.. Euphrates River water levels have caused partial flooding at the Al-Younani camp for displaced people, located south of the river in Raqqa, damaging the tents of dozens of families amid fears that the situation could worsen in the coming hours.
According to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), floodwaters entered the tents suddenly and rapidly, forcing residents to evacuate children and urgently move belongings, while no emergency measures or protective solutions were in place to stop the water from spreading across the camp.
Camp residents appealed to relevant authorities and humanitarian organizations for immediate intervention before the camp becomes completely submerged, stressing that the displaced families “have nowhere else to go.”
The incident comes amid warnings issued by the Early Warning and Preparedness Department at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management to residents living near the banks of the Euphrates River in the governorates of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor over rising water levels caused by increased inflow into the river.
The department, in coordination with the General Establishment of the Euphrates Dam, stated that water discharge had increased from 500 cubic meters per second to 800 cubic meters per second, with the possibility of rising to 1,000 cubic meters per second due to increased inflow into the Euphrates River and the Qadiran Dam.
Local media networks also documented the opening of spillway gates at the Euphrates Dam on Monday, as water levels in the Euphrates reservoirs exceeded 97% capacity. The move was described as a preventive technical measure aimed at reducing hydraulic pressure on the dam structure and ensuring its structural safety.
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Nechirvan Barzani and Mustafa Al-Kazhimi Discuss General Situation in the Middle East
ARK News.. Nechirvan Barzani received former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazhimi on Monday, May 25, 2026.
During their meeting, the two sides discussed the situation in Iraq and stressed the importance of supporting the political process, safeguarding stability, and continuing dialogue among all parties in service of the country’s broader national interest.
The repercussions of the wider situation in the Middle East also formed another key topic of discussion, with both sides agreeing on the necessity of preserving regional stability.
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Masrour Barzani: We Are Unaware of Any US Weapons Deliveries to Kurds in Iran
ARK News.. Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, responded to questions regarding reports alleging that the United States had sent weapons to the Iranian Kurdish opposition, as well as accusations directed at certain Kurdish parties over allegedly withholding those arms from the intended recipients.
Barzani stated that such a question should be addressed to American officials, adding that “if the United States has delivered any type of weapons, then it certainly knows to whom those weapons were handed.”
He further stressed, “On behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government, I affirm that we are not aware of this matter,” emphasizing that if such deliveries do exist, “the party that received those weapons should also be identified.”
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Masrour Barzani and Mustafa Al-Kazhimi Discuss Overall Regional Developments
ARK News.. Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, received former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazhimi on Monday, May 25, 2026.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the overall situation in Iraq and the wider region, in addition to reviewing the nature of relations between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government.
The talks also addressed the Prime Minister’s visit to Baghdad over the past two days, as well as the meetings and discussions he held with senior officials in the federal government and various Iraqi political parties and forces, with the aim of reaching lasting solutions to outstanding issues in accordance with the constitution.
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Israeli Forces Arrest Young Man from Jbata al-Khashab in Quneitra Countryside
ARK News.. Israeli forces infiltrated the town of Jbata al-Khashab in the northern countryside of Quneitra after midnight last night, raiding and searching two homes before arresting a young man from the town.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the forces took the detainee toward a military position located in the forest area of Jbata al-Khashab.
SANA also reported that a force consisting of three tanks advanced on Sunday, May 24, 2026, into Til al-Dar’yyat in the southern countryside of the province, where they remained stationed for a short period near the hill before withdrawing back toward the occupied Golan.
Yesterday, a force made up of five military vehicles reportedly entered the village of Sayda al-Golan in the southern Quneitra countryside, setting up a temporary checkpoint at the village junction and inspecting passersby before later withdrawing from the area.
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Trump: Significant Progress Made in Negotiations on “Peace Agreement” with Iran
ARK News.. U.S. President Donald Trump said that “a great deal of negotiation” has been completed regarding a memorandum of understanding tied to a peace agreement with Iran that would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Posting on the Truth Social platform, Trump stated that the anticipated agreement would result in reopening the strait, a vital shipping route whose closure has disrupted global energy markets since the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran in February.
Trump did not provide details about what else the agreement would include.
He added that the final aspects and details of the agreement are currently under discussion and will be announced soon.
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Kurdish Film “Sea of Hope” Qualifies for Final Stage of Ray of Light Awards
ARK News.. The Kurdish short film “Sea of Hope,” directed by Gabriel Abu Bakr, has qualified for the final stage of the international Ray of Light Awards festival, scheduled to take place on the Spanish island of Ibiza later this month.
According to Kurdistan24, director Gabriel Abu Bakr said that the film’s advancement to the finals represents a significant cinematic achievement reflecting the artistic value of the work, especially as the festival applies strict standards based on the depth of the humanitarian message and its impact, in addition to the technical and aesthetic aspects of filmmaking.
Abu Bakr added that “Sea of Hope” sheds light on the humanitarian tragedies caused by wars and armed conflicts, following the journeys of civilians trapped by the reality of war and forced into displacement, undertaking dangerous journeys threatened by death and drowning in search of a safe refuge where they can live with dignity.
The director noted that the Ray of Light Awards festival focuses on profound human stories aimed at elevating human awareness and strengthening humanitarian bonds.
He explained that the festival was established in honor of the legacy of late British actor Ray Stevenson, with his friends and admirers from the artistic community continuing the event as a message affirming the power of art to change human thoughts and emotions.
The second edition of the festival is set to begin on May 29, 2026, on the island of Ibiza in Spain and will continue over three consecutive days with the participation of a selection of international films.
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Masrour Barzani Holds Series of Meetings on Second Day of Baghdad Visit
ARK News.. At the start of the second day of his visit to Baghdad, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with Iraqi political figure Sheikh Khamis al-Khanjar.
The meeting included an exchange of views and perspectives regarding the general situation in Iraq and the wider region.
Both sides stressed the importance of making use of the current opportunity available to the federal government to establish a fair service-oriented approach that treats all components and citizens equally across Iraq.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also met on Sunday with Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassim al-Araji, as part of the second day of his visit to Baghdad.
During the meeting, the national security adviser highlighted the significance of the prime minister's visit to Baghdad, expressing appreciation for the Kurdistan Region and the major struggle and sacrifices it has made, while praising its well-known role in establishing Iraq’s current political process.
For his part, the prime minister thanked the national security adviser, commending his role in maintaining security and stability, as well as his supportive stance toward the legitimate rights of the people of Kurdistan.
The meeting also witnessed mutual affirmation of support for the efforts of the new federal government to provide services equally to all components and to resolve outstanding issues with the Kurdistan Region based on respect for the constitution, the federal system, and the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region.
Continuing his meetings and discussions in Baghdad, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also met with the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
The meeting reviewed the overall political situation in Iraq and the region, with both sides emphasizing the importance of enhancing cooperation and coordination among the various political forces and parties in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in a way that strengthens political stability and ensures the resolution of outstanding issues between the region and the federal government in accordance with the constitution, while respecting the federal system and the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region.
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Syrian Interior Ministry Announces Arrest of Assad-Era Major General
ARK News.. The Syrian Interior Ministry announced the arrest of Major General Mohammad Muhsen Nayyouf, one of the military officers who served under the Assad regime.
In a statement issued on Saturday, May 23, 2026, the ministry said that Nayyouf held the rank of major general during the former regime and occupied several prominent military and leadership positions, including service in the Third Corps, command of the 18th Tank Division, chief of staff of the 11th Division in 2020, as well as commander of the 105th Republican Guard Brigade in 2016.
The ministry added that the detainee has been referred to the competent authorities to complete investigations and take the necessary legal measures against him in preparation for referral to the competent judiciary.
On Friday, the Interior Ministry had also announced the arrest of Mohammad Imad Muhrez, one of the former guards and jailers at Sednaya Prison.
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Iraq Seeks to Replicate Kurdistan Region’s “Ronaki” Project Experience
ARK News.. Iraq is seeking to replicate the experience of the “Ronaki” project from the Kurdistan Region, where more than 85% of the population currently enjoys uninterrupted 24-hour electricity service, with plans to expand coverage across the entire region within the coming months.
According to statistics released by the “Ronaki” project in the Kurdistan Region, around 6 million people have already been provided with continuous electricity, representing more than 85% of the region’s total population, while efforts continue to extend coverage to the remaining areas.
Under a decision by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Council of Ministers, all residential subscribers joining the “Ronaki” project for the first time will benefit from discounts of 50%, 25%, and 15% on electricity bills during the first three months, as part of a transitional phase aimed at helping citizens adapt to the new electricity pricing system.
In addition, more than 5,900 neighborhood private generators have been shut down, accounting for nearly 85% of the total generators operating across Kurdistan.
The Kurdistan Regional Government also plans to deactivate more than 7,000 generators by the end of 2026.
The Kurdistan Regional Government had previously launched the electronic receipt project (Pswla-E) to provide full facilitation for citizens and advance the digitalization of the financial system.
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