Mohammad Ismail Praises President Barzani’s Role in Unifying the Kurdish Ranks
ARK News.. The Kurdistan Democratic Party – Syria (KDP-S) held a public seminar on Monday, December 15, 2025, at al-Furat Hall in Kobani, chaired by Mohammad Ismail, Secretary of the Kurdistan Democratic Party–Syria and President of the Kurdish National Council (KNC), with the participation of representatives of political parties, civil society institutions, tribal figures, and social activists.
During the seminar, Mohammad Ismail delivered a comprehensive briefing on the importance of forming a joint Kurdish delegation and its pivotal role in representing the Kurdish cause in a unified manner, both domestically and internationally.
He also addressed the latest political developments in the region and their implications for both the Syrian and Kurdish contexts, stressing the need to open a serious and responsible dialogue with Damascus that serves the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and ensures a just and sustainable solution to the Kurdish issue.
The President of the Kurdish National Council in Syria further highlighted the supportive role of the Kurdistan Regional Government, praising the prominent role of President Masoud Barzani in unifying the Kurdish ranks and his continued support for the Kurdish cause in regional and international forums.
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Hakan Fidan: Developments in Southern Syria Represent the Greatest Risk Area for Us
ARK News.. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed the importance of joint action among regional countries and international partners to support stability in Syria.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan said that “what is happening in southern Syria may currently constitute the largest area of risk for us, and the core of the problem lies in Israel becoming an intervening party, which creates a dangerous zone.”
The Turkish foreign minister noted that tracks related to Syria have seen progress since December 8, 2024, pointing out that the scale of destruction in the country requires major efforts, beginning with the removal of international restrictions and sanctions, to enable the launch of a reconstruction process.
Fidan explained that the lifting of certain U.S. restrictions on investments in Syria is an important step, adding that investments have begun to move gradually. However, he stressed that needs remain vast—particularly in infrastructure and basic services—to help create suitable conditions for the return of Syrian refugees.
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Germany: Kurdistan Democratic Party–Syria and Kurdistan Democratic Party Discuss Key Issues
ARK News.. The Kurdistan Democratic Party–Syria (KDP–Syria) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) stressed the importance of strengthening institutional work within the Kurdistanis diaspora in Europe in a way that serves Kurdistanis national causes.
Shifa Barzani, General Supervisor of the Federation of the Kurdistanis Diaspora, visited the KDP–Syria office in the city of Düsseldorf, Germany, where he was received by Nafie Biro, member of the Political Bureau of KDP–Syria.
During the meeting, a number of issues of mutual interest were discussed, with a particular focus on the role of the Kurdistanis diaspora in Europe.
Both sides reiterated the importance of enhancing organized and institutional efforts within the diaspora to support Kurdistanis national causes.
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Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Receives Iranian Ambassador to Iraq
ARK News.. On Sunday, December 14, 2025, Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, received the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Iraq, Mohammad Kazhem al-Sadiq.
The meeting discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, as well as the overall political landscape in Iraq following the parliamentary elections and the ongoing dialogue among political forces to form the new federal government.
In another part of the discussions, both sides emphasized the importance of advancing relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly in the economic, commercial, and cultural dimensions.
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Nechirvan Barzani and General François Trico Discuss the Situation in Syria and the Region
ARK News.. On Sunday, December 14, 2025, Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, received General François Trico, the Senior French National Representative to the International Coalition, along with an accompanying delegation.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed France’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the risks of terrorism and ISIS threats, as well as the activities of the International Coalition in Iraq.
Both sides emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and coordination between France, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region within the framework of the International Coalition to confront terrorism and safeguard the security and stability of the region.
President Nechirvan Barzani renewed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude and appreciation for France’s ongoing support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. For their part, the visiting delegation reaffirmed France’s commitment to continuing its support for the Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga forces.
The situation in Syria and the region more broadly, along with a number of issues of mutual concern, constituted another key focus of the meeting, which was also attended by Mr. Yann Brim, the French Consul General in the Kurdistan Region.
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Syria Arrests 11 Security Officers Following Attack on U.S. Delegation in Palmyra
ARK News.. Syrian authorities have arrested 11 members of the General Security apparatus following an attack targeting a joint U.S. military delegation in central Syria.
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP on Sunday, December 14, 2025, confirmed that the attacker was a member of the General Security under the Ministry of Interior. He had served in the General Security in several cities before being transferred to Palmyra (Tadmor), where the attack took place.
The source added that the arrested personnel were immediately referred for investigation following the incident.
Noor al-Din al-Baba, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, stated that the attacker had been under previous security evaluation due to concerns that he may hold extremist or radical views, and measures were planned to remove him from service before the incident.
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Unidentified Human Remains Discovered in Deir Ez-Zour
ARK News.. Electricity maintenance crews in Deir Ez-Zour have discovered unidentified human remains in the Talat al-Ruwad area on the outskirts of the city, local sources reported.
According to the sources, the remains were found on Sunday morning, December 14, 2025, while crews were carrying out routine work in the area.
The sources noted that Talat al-Ruwad had previously been under the control of Iranian-backed militias during the rule of the Assad regime, before those forces fled following the regime’s collapse one year ago.
Following the discovery, Civil Defense teams were dispatched to the site and began recovering the remains after receiving an official report.
According to the latest statistics released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, nearly 50 mass graves have been uncovered across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, containing more than 2,844 bodies.
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President Barzani Congratulates Barham Salih
President Masoud Barzani has extended his congratulations to Dr. Barham Salih on the occasion of his appointment as Head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The congratulations were conveyed during a phone call on Saturday, December 13, 2025, during which President Barzani expressed his pleasure at seeing a Kurdish figure assume such a prominent position at the United Nations level. He wished Dr. Salih continued success and the best of luck in his new role.
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Hakan Fidan: Recent Developments in Syria Mark a Significant Turning Point
ARK News.. The Turkish Foreign Minister affirmed that recent developments in Syria have marked an important turning point, noting that Turkey has stood by the Syrian people and shared their aspirations for freedom and stability.
Speaking at the Middle East Forum held in Istanbul, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that “what happened on December 8 last year in Syria opened the door to a new era,” adding that Turkey has worked with regional and international partners to support a process aimed at building an independent Syria with full sovereignty.
He emphasized that this objective has served as a common framework guiding political and diplomatic efforts over the past period.
Fidan explained that cooperation among countries in the region has played an influential role in reintegrating Syria into the international community, noting that these joint regional efforts have helped create a new political climate that supports Syria’s stability and strengthens its presence in international forums.
On another note, Fidan stressed that sustainable solutions to the region’s crises must emerge from within the region itself, underlining the importance of cooperation between regional states and key international actors.
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Hakan Fidan: Turkey Is Not Competing with Israel in Syria
ARK News.. The Turkish foreign minister affirmed that Israel’s repeated attacks on Syrian territory—including ground incursions in the south—constitute a “clear violation of international law” and pose a direct threat to regional stability, stressing that Turkey is not competing with Israel in Syria.
In remarks made during an interview with Al Jazeera, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the Israeli attacks reveal an “expansionist scheme targeting Syria’s unity and sovereignty,” at a time when Damascus is continuing efforts to rebuild its economy following the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Fidan argued that Israel invokes security concerns as a pretext to keep Syria and other countries in the region “weak states,” noting that Tel Aviv is “uncomfortable with the growing international support for Syria at this stage.”
Regarding claims of competition between Turkey and Israel in Syria, Fidan emphasized that Ankara “does not see itself and Israel pursuing the same objective, belonging to the same category, or occupying the same position on this issue.”
He clarified: “We do not see ourselves in a race with Israel on the Syrian arena,” stressing that “no party has the right to encroach on the borders of another. Israel’s borders recognized by the United Nations are clear, and so are Syria’s borders.”
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